FIFA says Croatia's disallowed goal against Portugal was based on ball sensor data

FIFA said a goal disallowed in favor of Croatia during Portugal's 2-1 win in the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup was ruled out after data from the Connected Ball Technology inside the match ball showed a touch by Croatian player Igor Matanović in the build-up. According to FIFA, the contact created an offside position, and the referee overturned the goal after reviewing the information. The Trionda match ball used at the tournament contains high-precision IMU sensors capable of detecting touches that are not visible to the naked eye. FIFA said the data are transmitted to broadcasters and displayed on screen as graphics during matches. Croatian fans reacted angrily after the final whistle, arguing the referee's decision directly shaped the result and criticizing FIFA and the officiating team on social media.