Connected Ball Technology’s Impact on World Cup Matches

Connected ball technology played a pivotal role in a World Cup match between Croatia and Portugal in Toronto, leading to dramatic outcomes. This technology led to the cancellation of Croatia’s late equalizer against Portugal, as it detected a touch that was invisible to the naked eye and video replays. Portugal secured a 2-1 victory and advanced to the round of 16, leaving Croatia’s players and fans disheartened over Josko Gvardiol’s disallowed goal, initially thought to be offside.

FIFA uses a sophisticated soccer ball equipped with advanced sensors, asserting its accuracy in determining even the slightest contact. The technology confirmed that Croatia’s Igor Mantanovic made a minor touch with his head, resulting in Mario Palasic being in an offside position at the goal’s buildup. These sensors are finely tuned to measure such contact, providing officials with real-time data for quick and precise decision-making.

How It Works

The technology utilizes the official “Trionda” World Cup ball manufactured by Adidas, featuring a small inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor. This sensor operates at 500Hz, capturing data 500 times per second. It tracks ball acceleration and movement in three dimensions, identifying the precise moment a player contacts the ball.

This ball technology integrates with in-stadium cameras to relay tracking data to video assistants in real time. It helps determine offsides and assess other incidents, such as handballs and penalties.

The Accuracy Debate

Despite the technology’s reliability, controversies arise due to visually inconclusive replay angles, as seen in the Croatia-Portugal match. Referee Espen Eskås, advised by VAR, reviewed a sideline monitor displaying a “heartbeat graphic” highlighting Mantanovic’s touch. According to professor Manos Tentzeris from Georgia Tech, the ball’s position is 99.99% accurate, precisely determining player positions, crucial for offside decisions.

Past Applications

Connected ball technology isn’t new, having been deployed at the 2022 World Cup and the men’s European Championship in 2024. Trials conducted from 2020-22 included events like the Arab Cup and the Club World Cup.

Its influence was evident at Euro 2024, where Denmark’s Joachim Andersen was penalized for a handball detected by the technology, resulting in a Germany penalty and victory. Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand and Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić expressed discontent with the technology’s impact, believing it diminishes football’s joy.

AP sports writer Maura Carey contributed to this coverage.