Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020

World Cup VAR controversy has taken centre stage after Croatia’s late equaliser against Portugal was ruled out by connected ball technology, turning a moment of pure celebration into one of the tournament’s fiercest debates.

Croatia believed they had forced extra time in their Round of 32 clash when Joško Gvardiol scored deep into stoppage time. The goal was then wiped away after technology detected a slight touch from Igor Matanović before the ball reached Gvardiol in an offside position.

For more detail on the match flashpoint, read Portugal vs Croatia Offside Controversy Spreads After Late VAR Drama, while official tournament updates are available through the FIFA World Cup 2026 page.

Joy Turns Into Debate

The emotional swing was brutal. Croatia fans went from wild celebration to stunned silence as the review process took over and Portugal were handed their path into the next round.

The decision may have been technically correct, but that has not ended the argument. For many supporters, the issue is whether technology should decide moments that are almost impossible for the human eye to see live.

Connected Ball Technology Under Fire

FIFA said the official match ball’s sensor system confirmed the key touch before the disallowed goal.

According to FIFA, "IMU sensors housed within the Trionda ball are capable of determining any slight contact, displayed to viewers in the broadcast as a 'heartbeat graphic,' and allowing officials an unprecedented level of data to make fast, accurate decisions."

That level of precision is meant to help referees, especially when matches move quickly and the stakes are huge. Yet the Croatia call showed the other side of modern football, where a goal can be removed because of a contact so small that fans need graphics to understand it.

Correct Call, Wrong Feeling

VAR, goal-line technology and offside reviews have improved many decisions across football. Clear handballs, obvious offsides and goal-line calls are exactly where technology helps the game.

The problem comes when technology moves beyond correcting visible mistakes and starts deciding football through tiny readings. Croatia did enough to create a famous World Cup moment, but the machine found the detail that took it away.

That is why this debate will last. Portugal survived, Croatia went home, and the wider World Cup question now feels unavoidable: can a decision be right by the rulebook and still feel wrong for the sport?