Croatia's Disallowed Goal Against Portugal Explained: The Role of Connected Ball Technology at the 2026 World Cup

Portugal Edges Past Croatia in a Nail-Biter at the 2026 World Cup

At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Portugal narrowly defeated 2018 finalists Croatia with a late strike from Goncalo Ramos, finishing 2-1. The match almost ended differently after Josko Gvardiol seemed to score a last-minute equalizer for Croatia. But the referee consulted the video review and ruled the goal offside, securing Portugal’s win.

Why Was Gvardiol's Goal Overturned?

In stoppage time, Gvardiol’s goal looked like it would tie the game. Yet officials determined the play was offside due to a subtle touch on the ball by Igor Matanovic, which put Mario Pasalic in an offside position. Had Matanovic not made contact, Pasalic would have been onside, and the goal would have counted.

The VAR review didn’t end there. Since the ball also grazed Portuguese defender Renato Veiga’s head, referee Espen Eskas had to decide if Veiga deliberately played the ball. He concluded Veiga was avoiding contact rather than controlling the ball, so the offside ruling remained intact.

Connected Ball Technology’s Crucial Role

This controversial call was influenced heavily by the Adidas Trionda ball, equipped with embedded sensors known as Connected Ball technology. At first, video replays suggested no contact from Matanovic, but the VAR team used data from the ball's chip to detect even the smallest touches.

The technology represents each touch visually like an audio waveform, syncing with video footage to reveal subtle contacts. A distortion in this waveform confirmed Matanovic’s touch, shifting the timing of the pass and proving Pasalic was offside when the ball was played. This led to the disallowing of the goal.

How Connected Ball Technology Works

FIFA, in partnership with adidas, developed this system by embedding a small inertial measurement unit inside the official World Cup ball. Operating at roughly 500 times per second, the sensor captures precise data about the ball’s acceleration and movement in three dimensions.

This data is relayed instantly to the video operation room, where it merges with stadium camera tracking to help VAR officials make accurate decisions, especially on offsides. It defines the exact moment a player contacts the ball, speeding up and refining calls.

Beyond offsides, Connected Ball technology assists with assessing handballs and penalties by providing detailed information on ball touches. The system enhances fairness on the field and gives fans deeper insight into the action.

Similarities to Other Sports Technology

This tech works similarly to cricket’s Ultra Edge system, often called "snicko," which detects faint contact between bat and ball. Both aim to catch tiny touches that might be invisible to the naked eye but are critical to making correct rulings.