VAR Technology Using Smart Ball Chips Disallows Croatia's Late Equalizer Against Portugal

In a dramatic conclusion to the Portugal vs. Croatia match at the 2026 World Cup, Croatia's late equalizing goal was disallowed after VAR intervention. The goal, scored deep into stoppage time at the 90+13 minute mark, was initially celebrated as a 2-2 equalizer. However, the official VAR review, aided by new technology embedded in the tournament's official ball, detected a barely visible touch by Croatian player Igor Matanovic before the ball reached Diogo Costa's net.

This slight contact caused Josko Gvardiol, who scored the goal, to be ruled offside. The VAR referee, Norwegian official Espen Eskås, reviewed the footage and confirmed the offside decision, nullifying the goal. Portugal maintained their 2-1 lead and advanced to the World Cup round of 16. The disallowed goal sparked frustration among Croatian players who collapsed on the pitch, and fans reacted with unrest, throwing objects onto the field and towards Portuguese supporters.

The official 2026 World Cup ball is equipped with an advanced motion sensor operating at 500 Hz frequency, providing real-time data to the video assistant referee system. This technology aims to improve decision accuracy, especially in close offside calls and subtle touches that are difficult to detect with the naked eye.