Croatia's Equalizer Disallowed by VAR in Controversial World Cup Exit

Croatia was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup in a highly contentious manner after a late equalizing goal by defender Joško Gvardiol was disallowed following an extended VAR review. The incident occurred in the 103rd minute during extra time against Portugal. Initially, it appeared that Igor Matnović missed a header from a left-wing cross, but the ball then deflected off Portuguese player Renato Veiga and reached Mario Pašalić, who assisted Gvardiol's goal. However, VAR detected a slight touch by Matnović on the ball, which placed Pašalić offside during the buildup, leading to the goal being ruled out.

Matnović later admitted to making "slight contact" with the ball, saying, "Honestly, I think I felt a light touch with my hair." He recounted asking the referee about the decision and was told that the ball contained a chip that detected the contact, confirming the offside call. Despite FIFA confirming the sensor's detection, the decision sparked significant debate among fans and players.

Croatian midfielder Petar Sučić shared insights into the referee's explanation. Norwegian referee Espen Eskås reportedly told the players he did not see the touch himself but relied on the ball's sensor to make the call. Sučić expressed confusion over the technology, stating, "It's really hard to explain, but we expect someone to clarify it for us because from what I saw, Matnović did not touch the ball. For me, it was a completely legal goal." He added that the referee made a split-second decision in a complex situation and suggested the need for further review and explanation.

The disallowed goal and Croatia's subsequent exit have ignited ongoing controversy and calls for clearer communication regarding VAR technology and its application in critical moments of the tournament.