Portugal advances past Croatia after VAR overturns late Croatian equaliser

In the FIFA World Cup 2026 round‑of‑32 match, Portugal defeated Croatia 2‑1 to move into the round of 16. A late equaliser by Josko Gvardiol was disallowed after a VAR review found Mario Pašić off‑side, using ball‑sensor technology to confirm the infringement. Gonzalo Ramos scored the winning header in the 94th minute. Cristiano Ronaldo became the oldest player to score in a World Cup knockout match at 41, while 40‑year‑old Luka Modrić likely played his final tournament.

The decision sparked controversy, with Croatian players and fans protesting the call. Analysts highlighted the new waveform system embedded in the match ball, which can detect even the slightest touch, as decisive evidence in the VAR ruling.