England at Mexico '86 40 years on - Qualification (Part 1)

2026 marks 40 years since the unforgettable 1986 World Cup in Mexico and with the 2026 edition taking place in Mexico alongside the United States and Canada, Magnificent Goal! relieves England's Mexico '86 campaign 4 decades on.

Steven Toplis is joined by writer and podcaster Michael Hamlen from @80s90sFootball on X as well as Asif Burhan, journalist and author of the brilliant new book 'The Other Side of the Hand of God' which looks back at England's escapades in South America 40 years ago.

We start by revisiting England's qualification campaign for the 1986 finals, which begins in the summer of 1984 in the wake of the Three Lions' failure to qualify for Euro '84 in France.

We look at how Bobby Robson started to re-shape his Three Lions side, with new faces emerging who would go on to play a starring role in Mexico and beyond. There's also a look at how Robson and the national side navigated arguably English football's darkest period off the pitch in May 1985.

You can find Michael by heading to @80s90sFootball on X and Bluesky.

Asif's book 'The Other Side of the Hand of God' is published by Pitch Publishing and available at all good book shops.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Other-Side-Hand-God-Notorious/dp/1836805209

Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-other-side-of-the-hand-of-god/asif-burhan/9781836805205