About the film
The Match is a 2026 Argentine documentary film written and directed by Juan Cabral and Santiago Franco, with Juan Cabral listed as director and maker. Based on Andrés Burgo’s non-fiction book of the same name, it reconstructs Argentina versus England in the quarter-finals of the 1986 FIFA World Cup. The film addresses the match remembered for Diego Maradona’s “hand of God” goal, while also examining its sporting, political, and cultural dimensions.
That encounter is placed against the background of the recent deadly Falklands War between Argentina and England. The documentary is identified with the subject “Argentina v England 1986” and comes from Argentina. Its release year is 2026, and its genre is documentary film.
The Match therefore combines a specific football match with the wider historical and national context surrounding it.
Who it is for
This suits viewers interested in football history, Argentina and England, the 1986 World Cup, and documentaries connecting sport with politics and culture.
Worth knowing
- Reconstructs the 1986 World Cup quarter-final
- Explores sporting, political, and cultural dimensions
- Based on Andrés Burgo’s non-fiction book
- Focuses on Argentina versus England
Before you press play
- Released in 2026
- Centers on one historical match
The short of it
The Match presents the Argentina–England quarter-final as both a football event and a politically charged encounter. Its focus on the 1986 match and Falklands War background suits viewers seeking sports documentaries with historical context.