Croatia eliminated by Portugal after controversial VAR call in World Cup round of 16

Croatia’s national football team lost 1‑2 to Portugal in the round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Toronto. Croatia equalised through a goal by Ivan Perišić, but Portugal responded with a penalty by Cristiano Ronaldo and a decisive goal by Gonçalo Ramos after a lengthy VAR review.

The match sparked extensive media commentary about the use of VAR technology. Former officials and commentators described the decision that led to the penalty as highly questionable, noting that the ball‑contact evidence was ambiguous. The controversy dominated post‑match analysis in both Croatian and international outlets.