Mexico 1986
Final: Argentina 3-2 West Germany
Colombia were due to host the 1986 World Cup but pulled out three years earlier saying the cost was prohibitive and their infrastructure could not support it.
FIFA awarded the tournament to Mexico, who became the first country to host it twice.
The heat and altitude that affected performances in 1970 did so again, but players were fitter and better prepared than they had been 16 years earlier.
The tournament consisted of 24 teams, but FIFA introduced a knockout second round of 16 nations rather than the second round groups of 1982.
Champions Italy made it as far as the second round where they lost 2-0 to France, while favourites Argentina, hosts Mexico, England, Brazil and West Germany were among those who reached the last eight.
An outstanding match brought together England and Argentina for the first time since their armed conflict over the Falkland/Malvinas Islands in 1982.
Argentina emerged the victors on 22 June at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, where Diego Maradona won the match with his infamous "Hand of God" goal and his utterly brilliant second when he dribbled from inside his own half, took on and beat half the England defence before rounding goalkeeper Peter Shilton to score.
Argentina beat Belgium in the semis, when Maradona scored another dazzling solo goal, to reach the final, while West Germany, as they had done in 1982, beat France in the semis.
The South Americans were the better team for much of a thrilling final at the Azteca and built a 2-0 lead after 56 minutes, with goals from Jose Luis Brown and Jorge Valdano.
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Rudi Voeller pulled Germany level with eight minutes to go before a dinked pass from Maradona set Jorge Burruchaga away, and he made no mistake with an 85th-minute winner.
