FIFA addressed the controversy that arose following the match between Portugal and Croatia in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup and explained why the goal that would have tied the game for the Croatian team in stoppage time was disallowed.
World soccer’s governing body confirmed that the referee’s decision was supported by technology embedded in the official match ball, which detected a virtually imperceptible contact during the play and allowed the VAR review to be upheld.
The chip-equipped ball was key to the decision
Through its official channels, FIFA reported that data collected by Connected Ball Technology, incorporated into the official Trionda ball, confirmed that Igor Matanović touched the ball in the play leading up to the goal.
That slight contact put Mario Pašalić in an offside position.
He then got involved in the play before Joško Gvardiol’s shot, and Gvardiol’s goal was ultimately disallowed.
According to FIFA, the information provided by the ball allowed the officials to correctly confirm the offside position.
And uphold the decision made following the VAR review (Filed under: FIFA explains offside).
How Balloon Technology Works
According to data provided by Connected Ball Technology, which is integrated into the @adidasfootball Trionda—the official match ball of the @FIFAWorldCup—it was confirmed that Croatia’s #20 Igor Matanović made contact during the build-up to the goal against Portugal, allowing the… pic.twitter.com/AyBz11N3wV
— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) July 3, 2026
The official ball used in the 2026 World Cup is equipped with IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) sensors capable of detecting even the slightest contact.
During television broadcasts, this technology is represented by a graph known as a “heartbeat.”
It shows the exact moment when a player touches the ball.
FIFA emphasized that this system provides additional information to referees and VAR officials, enabling them to make decisions more quickly and accurately.
Especially in situations as close-called as offsides (Filed under: FIFA Explains Offsides).
The play caused some frustration among the fans
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The referee’s decision sparked a strong reaction among some of the Croatian fans in the Toronto stadium.
After the goal was disallowed in the final minutes of the match, some fans threw objects onto the field, reflecting their frustration over a play that, at first glance, appeared to be valid.
However, the video review confirmed that there was an offside position resulting from the contact detected by the ball (Filed under: FIFA explains offside).
Portugal will face Spain
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Roberto Martínez Backed the Decision
Portugal’s head coach, Roberto Martínez, defended the referees’ performance after the match.
The coach pointed out that there were no mistakes in the most important decisions of the game.
He noted that both the offside call and the penalty awarded during the match were supported by the available technological tools.
With a 2-1 victory, Portugal advanced to the round of 16, where it will face Spain on Monday, July 6 (Filed under: FIFA explains offside).
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