Portugal Hub
The Portugal national team was saved by ball chip technology in their match against Croatia, valid for the 2026 World Cup. In the last minute of the match, Croatia scored a goal that was disallowed thanks to the precision of the chip installed in the ball.
What happened?
The match between Portugal and Croatia was marked by a controversial play in the last minute, when Croatian player Matanovic headed the ball and it ended up in the goal. However, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system intervened and used the data generated by the technology present in the ball to confirm that player Pasalic was in an offside position.
How does the ball chip technology work?
The official World Cup ball, the Trionda, has a high-performance motion sensor embedded in an inner layer of one of its panels. The technology is capable of collecting and transmitting information 500 times per second, which is received by the VAR system in real-time.
| Data | Value |
|---|---|
| Last result | Portugal 1-1 Congo DR (2026-06-17) |
| Recent form | 3W-2D-0L (DWWWD, most recent first) |
| Next match | vs Wales (at home, 2026-09-24) |
What does this mean for Portugal?
The ball chip technology was crucial for Portugal's qualification for the World Cup round of 16. Now, the Portuguese national team is preparing to face Wales in their next match, at home, on September 24, 2026.
