Croatia eliminated from World Cup after VAR decision against Portugal

By Karan Malhotra — 3 July 2026 — 3 min read

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic expressed dissatisfaction with the officiating following his team’s 2-1 loss to Portugal in the World Cup round of 32. The defeat led to Croatia’s elimination from the tournament. Dalic described the refereeing as “very bad” but stated he would not use it as an excuse for the loss.

The match saw a penalty awarded to Portugal after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review. Cristiano Ronaldo converted the penalty, levelling the score. Later, Goncalo Ramos scored in the 94th minute, putting Portugal ahead. A significant moment of controversy arose in stoppage time when Josko Gvardiol believed he had scored an equaliser. However, a review determined that the ball had touched Igor Matanovic, making Gvardiol offside. Norwegian referee Espen Eskas subsequently disallowed the goal.

VAR decision explained

The disallowed goal occurred in the 103rd minute of the match in Toronto. Gvardiol’s tap-in at the back post, which he thought would level the game, led to brief celebrations. However, VAR instructed referee Eskas to review the play for a potential offside infringement earlier in the sequence. The central point of contention was whether Croatian forward Igor Matanovic had touched the ball before it reached Mario Pasalic, who was in an offside position.

After reviewing footage and data from the match ball’s sensor technology, officials concluded that Matanovic had made a slight touch on the cross. Since Pasalic was offside at the moment of Matanovic’s touch, his subsequent involvement in setting up Gvardiol’s goal was deemed illegal under the Laws of the Game. Former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann explained that the offside stood because the ball was deflected by a teammate and not deliberately played by a defender. Cann also referenced “Snicko” technology, a waveform system in the match ball capable of detecting minimal contact, which confirmed Matanovic’s touch.

Croatia’s tournament exit

The decision to disallow the goal proved crucial, denying Croatia a dramatic equaliser and allowing Portugal to advance to the last 16. Croatian players and supporters expressed frustration, with many believing Matanovic had not touched the ball. Midfielder Petar Sucic called for further review and clarification of the incident after the match. The combination of VAR footage and ball sensor technology ultimately determined the outcome.

Dalic noted that his team did not create enough chances in the first half but improved significantly in the second. He suggested that Croatia’s luck from previous World Cups had run out. Croatia had finished as runners-up in 2018 and secured third place in 2022, but will depart this tournament without a medal.

The match also marked what is likely the final World Cup appearance for 40-year-old captain Luka Modric, who has been a central figure for Croatia for many years. Dalic expressed regret that Modric’s tournament ended in this manner. Despite the end of an era for some players, Dalic expressed optimism about the future of the Croatian national team, citing the emergence of young talent. He did not provide insight into his own future, having led Croatia since 2017.