Sweden's World Cup win aided by cricket‑style VAR technology

At the 2026 World Cup match in Monterrey, Sweden defeated Tunisia 5‑1. In the 84th minute, Mattias Svanberg scored a goal that was initially ruled out for off‑side. VAR reviewed the incident using a new micro‑chip‑embedded ball system, similar to cricket's Snickometer, which records 500 contacts per second. The data showed that Alexander Isak’s boot had brushed the ball moments before the shot, confirming that Svanberg was on‑side and the goal was awarded.

The technology, previously trialled at Euro 2024 and the 2022 Qatar World Cup, displayed a graphic tracing the ball‑boot contact to viewers, marking one of the first times such visual evidence was shown live. The decision sparked a viral discussion on social media, with thousands of comments on Reddit praising the clarity the system provided and debating its broader adoption in football leagues.