This High-Tech Ball Was Involved in One of the Most Dramatic Moments in World Cup History

A high-tech soccer ball helped make one of the biggest calls in World Cup history. Late in a match between Portugal and Croatia, a goal was canceled because a tiny sensor inside the ball detected a touch that no one could see with their eyes. Portugal won the game 2-1 in Toronto and moved on to the next round, while Croatia was knocked out of the tournament.

The technology used is called connected ball technology. The official World Cup ball, called the Trionda and made by Adidas, has a small sensor built inside it. That sensor records data 500 times every second, which helps officials track exactly how the ball moves and when a player touches it. FIFA, the organization that runs the World Cup, says the sensor can detect even the smallest contact with the ball.

Here is how it works in a game. The ball's sensor sends information to cameras set up around the stadium. That data is then passed in real time to video review officials, who are called VAR officials. Together, the camera data and ball data help referees make faster and more accurate decisions on close calls. The system can also help with calls like handballs and penalties.

The reason the Croatia goal was so controversial is that nobody could tell from video replays whether Croatian player Igor Mantanovic actually touched the ball. Normally, referees use slow-motion video from many angles to check these kinds of plays. But even those videos were unclear. That is when officials turned to the ball's sensor data for the answer.

The sensor showed what FIFA calls a heartbeat graphic. This is a visual display that spikes whenever the ball is touched. When officials reviewed the data, there was a clear spike at the moment the ball passed near Mantanovic's head, suggesting he grazed it. Because of that touch, another Croatian player was ruled offside, and the goal was canceled.

Professor Manos Tentzeris from Georgia Tech explained just how accurate this technology is. He told the Associated Press that no matter how fast the ball moves or spins, officials can track it very effectively. He added that the ball's position is 99.99% accurate, meaning officials can even track the tip of a player's shoe to decide offside calls.

This is not the first time connected ball technology has changed a big game. FIFA also used it at the 2022 World Cup and at the 2024 European Championship. At Euro 2024, the sensors detected that Denmark's Joachim Andersen had handled the ball in the penalty box during a match against Germany. A penalty was given, Kai Havertz scored, and Germany won 2-0.

Not everyone is happy with how much technology is being used in soccer. Denmark's coach said it is not how football is supposed to be played. Croatia's coach, Zlatko Dalić, agreed, saying these decisions take the joy out of football. Many fans and coaches feel that too much technology removes the human side of the sport.

Still, FIFA stands by its decision and says the technology makes the game fairer. The sensors were tested between 2020 and 2022 and were tried out at smaller tournaments before being used at the World Cup. Whether fans like it or not, connected ball technology is now a big part of how the world's most popular sport is officiated.