FIFA cites ball sensor data to cancel Croatia's late goal against Portugal

In the round‑of‑sixteen match between Portugal and Croatia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Joško Gvardiol’s potential equaliser in the 104th minute was initially validated and then disallowed for offside. FIFA explained that Connected Ball Technology embedded in the adidas Trionda match ball recorded a light touch by Croatia’s Igor Matanović, which activated the off‑side rule and nullified the goal. The subsequent touch by Portuguese defender Renato Veiga was deemed a deflection, not a deliberate play, and therefore did not reset the off‑side position. FIFA’s official communication, quoted in a tweet, stated: “it was proven that the number 20 of Croatia touched the ball at the start of the action, allowing the referee to assign the off‑side correctly and cancel the goal.” The decision provoked protests from the Croatian team and staff, who maintain the goal should have stood.

The incident highlights the role of advanced sensor data in modern VAR procedures, providing officials with precise information on ball‑player contacts that are invisible to the naked eye.