Croatia's Disallowed Goal Against Portugal Explained: The Role of Chip-in-Ball Technology
At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Portugal narrowly defeated 2018 finalists Croatia 2-1, thanks to a late winner by Goncalo Ramos. The match nearly swung the other way as Josko Gvardiol seemed to score a last-minute equalizer for Croatia, only for the goal to be disallowed after a VAR review.
Why Was Croatia’s Late Goal Overturned?
In stoppage time, Gvardiol put the ball in the net, appearing to tie the game. But the referee consulted the monitor and ruled the goal out for offside. Officials, aided by advanced technology, determined that Igor Matanovic had touched the ball with his head just before the pass reached Mario Pasalic, who was then deemed offside.
If Matanovic had not made contact, Pasalic would have been onside since the initial delivery came from deep on the left side.
Further complicating the decision, the ball also grazed Portugal defender Renato Veiga’s head. Norwegian referee Espen Eskas assessed whether Veiga intentionally played the ball. He concluded Veiga did not deliberately touch it but merely tried to avoid it, so the offside ruling stood, as deflections off defenders don’t reset offside status.
How Connected Ball Technology Influenced the Decision
The 2026 World Cup used the Adidas Trionda ball, embedded with innovative Connected Ball technology. This system played a key role in confirming the offside call against Croatia.
To the naked eye and even on replay, it looked like Matanovic never touched the ball. But VAR had access to data from the ball’s embedded chip, which detects every contact.
A visual representation similar to an audio waveform displayed each touch during the VAR review. A clear disturbance on the graph showed when the ball passed over Matanovic’s head, proving he made contact. This shifted the timing of the pass, confirming Pasalic was offside.
The technology has parallels with cricket’s Ultra Edge system, which picks up faint ball contacts in batting decisions.
What Is Connected Ball Technology?
FIFA, in partnership with adidas, developed this tech by embedding a tiny inertial measurement unit inside the official World Cup ball. It tracks the ball’s movement 500 times per second, capturing acceleration and fine movements in three dimensions.
This data transmits live to the video operation room, where it combines with player tracking cameras to help VAR officials make precise calls. The system pinpoints the exact moment of contact, speeding up and refining offside decisions. It also assists in reviewing other incidents like handballs or penalties.
By providing detailed, real-time insights into ball dynamics, Connected Ball technology enhances both fairness on the pitch and the viewing experience for fans.
