Croatia’s heartbreaking exit fifa world cup The 2026 match against Portugal ended up being one of the most dramatic VAR decisions of the tournament, with FIFA later explaining that advanced ball technology played a key role in ruling out a stoppage-time equalizer.In the 103rd minute of the round of 32 match in Toronto, Josko Guardiol crossed into the penalty area and then fired from close range. The Croatian team seemed to have rewritten the score to 2-2. The goal sparked wild celebrations before VAR intervened and ruled the goal out for offside. The dispute centered around whether Croatia forward Igor Matanovic made contact with the ball before it was passed to Mario Pasalic, who was in an offside position. Initially, Pasalic appeared to have saved the goal after a deflection from Portuguese defender Renato Veiga. However, VAR ruled that Matanovic had made a slight touch early on.
How ball skills could determine Croatia’s fate
According to the ruling, Pasalic was in an offside position when Matanovic touched the ball, meaning his assist to Guardiol could not be established.FIFA later confirmed that the crucial touch was detected through the Connected Ball technology installed in the official Adidas Trionda match ball.“Data provided by Connected Ball Technology inside the @adidasfootball Trionda, the official @FIFAWorldCup match ball, has proven that Croatia’s No. 20 Igor Matanović made contact before the goal against Portugal, allowing the referee to correctly call it offside and disallow the goal.FIFA Media shared onCroatia took the lead early in the second half through Ivan Perisic before Cristiano Ronaldo equalized with his third goal of the World Cup. Goncalo Ramos then scored the winning goal in stoppage time, heading in a cross from Rafael Leao to help Portugal advance to the last 16.
