The Portugal national team beat Croatia 2-1 in the round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup. The disallowed goal in the second half's stoppage time sparked controversy among football commentators and spectators.

What happened?

The match ended dramatically for the Croatians, with a disallowed goal in the second half's stoppage time. Portugal was leading 2-1 when the incident occurred.

Why was the decision important?

The decision by referee Espen Eskas of Norway to disallow the Croatian goal was based on rule 11. Former referee Wallace Valente says the decision was correct, as the ball deflected off a defender and the attacker gained an advantage from an irregular position.

What comes next?

The Portugal national team is on a run of 3 wins and 2 draws in their last 5 games, with a 2-1 win over Croatia on July 2, 2026. Their next match will be against Spain on July 6, 2026.

DateOpponentResult
July 2, 2026Croatia2-1
July 6, 2026Spain-