Croatia’s heartbreaking exit fifa world cup The 2026 match against Portugal ended up being one of the tournament’s most dramatic VAR decisions, 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 Gvardiol crossed into the penalty area and scored 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. At issue was 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 earlier.
How ball skills determined Croatia’s fate
According to the ruling, Pasalic was offside when Matanovic touched the ball, meaning his assist to Gvardiol could not stand.FIFA later confirmed that the crucial touch was detected via Connected Ball technology installed in the official adidas Trionda match ball.“According to data provided by Connected Ball Technology inside the @adidasfootball Trionda, the official @FIFAWorldCup match ball, it has been proven that contact was made by Croatia number 20 Igor Matanović 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 winner in stoppage time, heading in a cross from Rafael Leao to help Portugal advance to the last 16.
