FIFA World Cup 2026: VAR Denies Croatia Late Equalizer Against Portugal
Controversial VAR Decision in Croatia vs Portugal Match
Photo: @Chefdoo95/X
Toronto, July 3: In a dramatic Round of 32 encounter, Croatia believed they had equalized against Portugal, only for VAR to step in and disallow the goal due to offside. FIFA later explained that an IMU sensor embedded in the official match ball detected a slight touch from Croatian forward Igor Matanovic.
After Ivan Perisic put Croatia ahead shortly after halftime, Cristiano Ronaldo equalized with his third goal of the tournament. Goncalo Ramos then scored a late winner, heading in a cross from Rafael Leao during the fourth minute of stoppage time.
In a tense moment, a long pass into the Portuguese box found Mario Pasalic, who squared the ball for Josko Gvardiol to finish in the 103rd minute. However, following a VAR review, Pasalic was ruled offside.
The play began with a cross from Ivan Perisic, and it seemed that Pasalic had gotten behind the defense before chesting the ball down for Gvardiol. It appeared Croatia had snatched a last-minute equalizer, reminiscent of their past comebacks.
However, VAR intervened. Initially, it seemed Pasalic had chested the ball after a deflection from Portugal’s Renato Veiga, which would have kept him onside. Yet, the review revealed that Igor Matanovic had made a slight touch on the ball before it reached Veiga.
When Matanović's head made contact, Pasalic was in an offside position, leading to the disallowed goal and heartbreak for the Croatian team.
FIFA confirmed via social media that Matanovic's touch was detected using data from the Connected Ball Technology integrated into the official match ball.
"Data from the Connected Ball Technology within the @adidasfootball Trionda, the official match ball of the @FIFAWorldCup, confirmed that Croatia's #20 Igor Matanović made contact in the buildup to the goal against Portugal, allowing the referee to correctly rule offside and disallow the goal," FIFA Media stated on X.
Ronaldo's goal in the second half and a late strike from Ramos allowed Portugal to come from behind and secure a thrilling victory in this Toronto showdown at the FIFA World Cup 2026.