Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 5 Pounds 1986, KM# 589, Egypt, 1986 Football (Soccer) World Cup in Mexico
  • 5 Pounds 1986, KM# 589, Egypt, 1986 Football (Soccer) World Cup in Mexico
Description

The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June 1986. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. With European nations not allowed to host after the previous World Cup in Spain, Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially resigned in 1982. Mexico was selected as the new host in May 1983, thus becoming the first country to host the World Cup more than once.

It was won by Argentina (their second title, after winning in 1978). Argentina was captained by the 25-year old Diego Maradona, who played a large part in his team's success by scoring the "Hand of God" goal, as well as another voted "Goal of the Century", in the same quarter-final against England. These were two of the five goals that Maradona scored during the tournament, and he also created another five for his teammates. Argentina beat West Germany 3–2 in the final at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca. Total attendance was 2,394,031, an average per match of 46,039. Canada, Denmark and Iraq made their first appearances at the final stage.

The format of the competition changed from 1982. The final pair of matches in each group started at the same time and the second round was played on a knock-out basis rather than groups. The 24 teams qualified were divided into six groups of four (A to F). The top two teams and the four best third-place finishers from the six groups advanced to the knockout round of 16 teams. Italy were the defending champions, but were eliminated by France in the Round of 16.

The 1986 World Cup saw the appearance of an audience phenomenon dubbed the Mexican wave, which was popularized worldwide after featuring during the tournament.

Obverse

Depicts a soccer ball on the road from the Egyptian three Great Pyramids of Giza to the Mexican Temple of Kukulcán (El Castillo) of Chichen Itza, surrounded by the inscription. Date in the centre.

The Giza pyramid complex is an archaeological site on the Giza Plateau, on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt. This complex of ancient monuments includes the three pyramid complexes known as the Great Pyramids, the massive sculpture known as the Great Sphinx, several cemeteries, a workers' village and an industrial complex. It is located in the Libyan Desert, approximately 9 km (5 mi) west of the Nile river at the old town of Giza, and about 13 km (8 mi) southwest of Cairo city centre.

El Castillo, known as the Temple of Kukulcán, is a Mesoamerican step-pyramid that dominates the centre of the Chichen Itza archaeological site in the Mexican state of Yucatán. Built by the pre-Columbian Maya civilization sometime between the 8th and 12th centuries AD, the pyramid served as a temple to the deity Kukulcán, the Yucatec Maya Feathered Serpent deity closely related to Quetzalcoatl. The pyramid consists of a series of square terraces with stairways up each of the four sides to the temple on top. The structure is 24 m (79 ft) high, plus an additional 6 m (20 ft) for the temple at the top. The square base measures 55.3 m (181 ft) across.

WORLD FOOTBALL
1986
CHAMPIONSHIP

Reverse

Denomination divide three Lotus flowers, the state name "Arab Republic of Egypt" as well as the abbreviation ARE in English above and dates (Hegira and Gregorian) below.

جمهورية مصر العربية
ARE
5 LE ٥ جنيهات
١٤٠٦ ـ ١٩٨٦

Edge
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Silver
Fineness 0.720
Weight 17.68 g
Diameter 37 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Cairo Mint

Related coins

Democratic Republic

1986 Football (Soccer) World Cup in Mexico

Silver, 16 g, ⌀ 38 mm
People's Republic

1986 Football (Soccer) World Cup in Mexico

Nickel Brass, 23.33 g, ⌀ 38.61 mm
People's Republic

1986 Football (Soccer) World Cup in Mexico

Nickel Brass, 23.33 g, ⌀ 38.61 mm