Portugal eliminates Croatia in VAR controversy during World Cup knockout stage
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 3, 2026, 8:58 PM
Last updated Jul 3, 2026
Portugal advanced in the FIFA World Cup on July 2, 2026, defeating Croatia 2-1 in a Round of 32 match at Toronto Stadium. The game saw a dramatic moment when Croatia's late equalizer was disallowed after a VAR review, which cited a slight offside detected by tech integrated into the Adidas Trionda ball. Croatia manager Zlatiko Dalic criticized the decision, stating it diminished the joy of football, while Portugal's Roberto Martínez defended the technology. The use of advanced tech has sparked debate about its impact on the emotional experience of the game, even as FIFA aims to reduce human error.
- •Portugal won 2-1 against Croatia in the Round of 32.
- •A late equalizer from Croatia was disallowed by VAR technology.
- •Sensors in the ball detected an offside offense unnoticed in real-time.
- •Controversy over the precise use of technology in critical match moments continues.
- •The match took place on July 2, 2026, at Toronto Stadium.
- 8:58 PMYahoo Sports — Has Technology Ruined The World Cup?
"This comes after FIFA invested years developing tools that combine player tracking, artificial intelligence and ball sensors to reduce human error in crucial moments.
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