The FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between Portugal and Croatia at Toronto Stadium on July 2 ended in controversy when a late equalizer by Josko Gvardiol was disallowed for offside, sparking anger among Croatian fans. Bottles and cans were thrown onto the pitch as fans expressed their displeasure with the decision. The match, which saw Portugal win 2-1, was decided by a VAR review that used ball-chip technology to confirm the offside.
Controversial call in stoppage time
Deep into second-half added time, Gvardiol appeared to score for Croatia, sending the predominantly Croatian supporters in the south end of the stadium into a frenzy. However, the goal was ruled offside after a lengthy VAR review determined that Mario Pasalic was in an offside position when the ball was played. The technology embedded in the match ball detected contact by Croatia's Igor Matanovic, which confirmed the offside.
According to Portugal coach Roberto Martinez, the call was clear. "It's a shame one of the two teams had to lose today, but the call is clear," Martinez said. "The technology helps uphold the decision." He added that the ball's chip sensor showed the ball was touched, making the offside an objective opinion.
Fan reaction and aftermath
Dozens of bottles soon littered the field, and loud booing from Croatian fans filled the stadium. The Croatian players were crestfallen, especially after the final whistle blew shortly after the disallowed goal. Luka Modric, the Croatian legend who likely played his final World Cup match, appeared stunned by the ruling. The heartbreaking verdict sent Portugal to the Round of 16.
The match featured four disallowed goals in total—two for each team—all ruled offside. The wild ending capped an incredible night of football, with Portugal's two second-half goals erasing a 1-0 deficit.
Technology at the center
Martinez emphasized that the connected ball technology, which uses chips embedded in the balls, provided objective evidence. "The ball has a chip, that is why it was clear," he said. The sensor determines whether there was contact, which ultimately led to the offside ruling. Without that technology, it is uncertain whether VAR would have made the same call. This controversy highlights the ongoing debate about the role of technology in football.
