Why VAR Denied Croatia's Late Equalizer In Portugal World Cup Win
FOX Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- Croatia appeared to have equalized against Portugal in the 2026 World Cup round of 32 match with a stoppage-time goal by Joško Gvardiol, but the goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR review.
- The offside decision hinged on a slight deflection by Croatia’s Igor Matanović before the ball reached Portugal’s Renato Veiga, with Mario Pašalić in an offside position at that moment.
- Advanced technology in the Adidas World Cup ball, including a sensor chip that tracks ball interactions 500 times per second, assisted VAR officials in making the precise offside call.
- The disallowed goal ended Croatia’s hopes of progressing, potentially marking the last World Cup appearance for veteran Luka Modrić in a heartbreaking exit.
