Sensor-equipped World Cup ball helps VAR call: Croatia’s late equalizer ruled out
Portugal advanced after a stoppage-time drama when FIFA’s new Trionda World Cup ball, containing IMU sensors, provided real-time data to VAR to overturn Croatia’s last-minute equalizer. A tiny touch from Matanović on the ball led to Pašalić being offside before Gvardiol scored, a call FIFA described as proven thanks to ball data and a heartbeat visualization. Croatia criticized the decision and VAR, while Portugal’s coach credited the technology for clarity. The story also notes NBA trials of a sensor-enabled ball.