FIFA has clarified why Croatia’s stoppage-time equaliser against Portugal was disallowed in their 2026 World Cup round-of-32 clash, confirming that “connected ball” technology played a decisive role in the VAR review.
The dramatic decision came in the 13th minute of added time on Friday morning, when Croatia believed they had levelled the match through Josko Gvardiol. However, celebrations were cut short after the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervened and the goal was ruled out following a detailed technical review.
Portugal ultimately held on for a 2-1 victory, but attention quickly shifted to the late controversy and the technology behind the decision.
Sensor data identifies earlier touch
According to official tournament data, the build-up to the disallowed goal involved a very slight contact by Croatian forward Igor Matanovic. That touch, detected during the attacking sequence, was identified before the ball reached Gvardiol, who had finished the move.
The intervention of VAR, supported by ball-tracking data, concluded that Mario Pasalic had been involved in the play from an offside position. As a result, the attacking sequence was deemed illegal and the goal was ruled out.
The decision meant Croatia’s potential equaliser was cancelled, confirming Portugal’s 2-1 win.
FIFA confirms role of connected ball system
In an official statement, FIFA explained that the decision was supported by “connected ball” technology embedded within the match ball used at the tournament.
The Adidas “Triunda” ball contains sensors powered by Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) technology, which can detect even the smallest contact with the ball.
FIFA said the system is capable of recording minute touches that may not be visible in real time, providing referees with additional data to assess complex incidents.
The governing body added that the information collected is also shared with broadcast audiences through graphical displays, helping viewers understand the precise moments of contact during key incidents.
The aim of the system, FIFA stated, is to assist referees in reaching faster and more accurate decisions in difficult match situations.
Technology already influencing the tournament
FIFA also noted that this was not the first instance of the “connected ball” affecting a decision at the 2026 World Cup.
During the group stage match between Sweden and Tunisia, a goal scored by Matthias Svanberg was initially ruled out for offside.
However, after review, the decision was overturned when sensor data indicated that the ball had in fact been slightly touched by his teammate Alexander Isak in the build-up, altering the interpretation of the offside phase.
Growing impact on refereeing decisions
The latest incident involving Croatia and Portugal is expected to renew discussion around the growing role of advanced technology in football officiating.
While VAR has already transformed decision-making in recent years, the integration of sensor-equipped match balls adds another layer of precision to the process.
In this case, the technology directly influenced the outcome of a crucial World Cup knockout match, ensuring Croatia’s late strike was disallowed and Portugal progressed to the next round.
As the tournament continues, FIFA’s reliance on real-time data systems is likely to remain under scrutiny, particularly in high-stakes moments where fine margins decide results.
