How Chip-in-Ball Technology Decided Croatia's Disallowed Goal Against Portugal at 2026 World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup saw Portugal, one of Europe's strong contenders, narrowly defeat Croatia 2-1. The match was intense, with the 2018 finalists Croatia nearly snatching a late equalizer. Josko Gvardiol appeared to score in stoppage time, but the goal was disallowed after a video assistant referee (VAR) review.
Why was the goal ruled offside?
In the 12th minute of stoppage time, Gvardiol's strike looked set to level the match. Yet, the referee consulted the monitor and judged the goal invalid due to an offside position. The key moment involved a slight touch by Croatian substitute Igor Matanovic, who nudged the ball with his head. This contact put Mario Pasalic in an offside spot when the ball was played forward.
If Matanovic had not touched the ball, Pasalic would have been onside based on the initial delivery from deep on the left flank. After this, the referee reviewed whether Portuguese defender Renato Veiga deliberately played the ball after it brushed his head. The official decided Veiga did not intentionally play the ball, so the offside ruling stood, canceling the goal.
Connected Ball technology’s role in the decision
The Adidas Trionda ball used at the tournament contains embedded sensors known as Connected Ball technology. This innovation helped clarify the offside call beyond what was visible on traditional replays. At first glance, it seemed Matanovic never touched the ball, which would have kept Pasalic onside.
VAR accessed data from the ball’s chip, revealing every touch through a graphical waveform synced with the video. A distortion in this waveform confirmed the ball contacted Matanovic’s head. This evidence shifted the timing of the pass, confirming Pasalic was offside at the precise moment the ball was last played.
“According to data from Connected Ball Technology inside the Adidas Trionda ball, contact by Croatia’s #20 Igor Matanović was confirmed during the buildup to the goal,” tweeted FIFA Media.
The technology functions similarly to the 'Ultra Edge' system in cricket, which detects faint contacts between bat and ball to confirm or deny catches.
How does Connected Ball technology operate?
FIFA and adidas developed this system by embedding a small inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor inside the official match ball. This sensor captures movement data around 500 times per second, tracking acceleration and subtle shifts in three dimensions. The data feeds directly to VAR teams, combined with stadium cameras tracking players, allowing for precise timing of ball touches.
This helps referees pinpoint the exact moment a player contacts the ball, speeding up offside decisions and increasing accuracy. The system also supports other critical calls like handballs or penalty incidents by providing clear touch data.
The impact on modern football
Using such technology ensures fairness and improves decision-making in high-stakes matches. Fans gain a clearer view of key moments, while officials rely on detailed insights to make tough calls. This case in the Portugal-Croatia match highlights how tech can influence outcomes even in the final moments of a game.
