FIFA has confirmed that Croatia's dramatic late equalizer against Portugal in the World Cup was correctly disallowed for offside, thanks to data from the Adidas Trionda ball. The technology, housed within the official match ball, provided crucial information to VAR officials, ultimately impacting Croatia's World Cup aspirations and sending Portugal to the Round of 16.

During added time, Croatia thought they had leveled the score after a scramble in the box. However, referee Espen Eskas was prompted to review the play at the VAR monitor. FIFA's 'Connected Ball Technology,' similar to cricket's 'Snicko,' detected a slight touch from Croatia's Igor Matanovic, which made Mario Pasalic offside in the build-up.

This verification by the ball's internal IMU sensors, displayed as a 'heartbeat graphic,' allowed officials to make a swift and accurate offside determination. The data proved decisive, overturning the on-field decision and concluding Croatia's World Cup journey. Portugal advanced to the knockout stages based on this ruling.

The use of this advanced ball technology provided an unprecedented level of data for officials. It ensured the correct application of offside rules in a high-stakes moment, directly influencing the tournament's progression.