Has Technology Ruined The World Cup?
Has Technology Ruined The World Cup?
https://www.forbes.com/sites/clementelisi/2026/07/03/has-technology-ruined-the-world-cup/
Publish Date: 2026-07-03 16:58:00
Source Domain: www.forbes.com
TORONTO, ONTARIO – JULY 02: A general view as the screen shows a VAR review on a Croatia goal attempt during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between Portugal and Croatia at Toronto Stadium on July 02, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
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Soccer has always embraced innovation, albeit reluctantly.
In the 1990s, the back-pass rule changed the way teams built from the back. A decade ago, goal-line technology finally settled arguments over whether the ball had crossed the line.
Today, the game’s tech evolution extends far beyond isolated decisions. Video Assistant Referee, semi-automated offside technology and sensor-equipped balls have fundamentally changed how matches are played, officiated and remembered.
The 2026 World Cup has become another proving ground for these innovations. Recent knockout round matches demonstrate that technology is no longer a supporting actor. In many cases, it has become the game’s central protagonist.
Portugal’s 2-1 round of 32 victory over Croatia offered perhaps the tournament’s clearest example. Croatia thought it had scored a dramatic late equalizer, only to see the goal erased after a VAR review.
The decision hinged not simply on replay angles, but on data collected by a microchip in the ball, which detected a slight touch that altered the attacking sequence and confirmed an offside offense. Portugal moved on, while Croatia’s World Cup came to an abrupt end.
Josko Gvardiol’s would-be equalizer 13 minutes into stoppage time was called off after it was determined that Igor Mantanovic had made the slightest of glances with his head – perhaps even the tips of his hair – in the build-up to the goal.
From a technical standpoint, the system worked. The technology put in place before the tournament delivered information unavailable to the naked eye and allowed the match officials to apply the Laws of the Game with remarkable precision.
This comes after FIFA has invested years…
