VAR 'gone too far': World Cup 2026 technology sparks debate

In Germany's Round of 16 match against Paraguay at Atlanta Stadium in the U.S. on June 29, defender Jonathan Tah appeared to score an extra-time winner with a header that would have given Germany a 2-1 lead.

However, after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review, the goal was ruled out because another Germany player Waldemar Anton was judged to have fouled Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill moments earlier.

Slow-motion replays showed Anton making contact from behind, causing Gill to fall. However, many observers argued the contact was minimal and the decision overly harsh. Germany eventually lost the match in a penalty shootout.

Further controversy followed in the Round of 32 on July 2. Belgium were awarded a stoppage-time penalty after a VAR review and came from behind to beat Senegal.

In the match between the U.S. and Bosnia and Herzegovina on the same day, U.S.’s striker Folarin Balogun was sent off following another VAR intervention, a decision that also divided opinion.

VAR during football match between Brazil and Norway in round 16 knockout stage during FIFA World Cup 2026 at MetLife stadium in New Jersey, July 5, 2026. Photo by Reuters

According to Eurosport, the tournament's most controversial decision so far came during Croatia's Round of 16 defeat to Portugal on July 3, when officials used data from a sensor embedded in the Adidas Trionda match ball to disallow a dramatic extra-time equalizer for Croatia.

At previous World Cups, the goal likely would have stood. This year, however, FIFA's new technology produced a different outcome, CNN reported.

"All these decisions take the joy out of football," Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic told TNT Sports. "It kills the emotions. It kills everything within you. It kills what you are experiencing and then brings you back to the beginning."

"It’s not easy to deal with all of this. Football should be fair, and the decisions should be such, but we’ve gone on too far about VAR."

Forbes said the technology introduced in this tournament has allowed match officials to enforce the rules with remarkable precision by providing information that cannot be detected with the naked eye.

It noted that technology has corrected many officiating mistakes that once shaped major tournaments. Goal-line technology has removed uncertainty over whether a ball crossed the line, while semi-automated offside technology has reduced delays and improved consistency. VAR has also overturned cases of mistaken identity, missed penalties and dangerous fouls that referees could not see from their position on the field.

However, Forbes argued that technology has not eliminated controversy. Instead, debates have shifted from whether referees saw an incident to whether technology was applied correctly and consistently.

Connected Ball Technology inside the Adidas Trionda match ball. Photo courtesy of Adidas

Some experts say the latest technologies are benefiting football both on and off the pitch while some warn against overuse.

Professor Casper Harteveld of Northeastern University said one advantage is helping fans better understand the offside rule. Under the law, an attacking player cannot receive the ball while being nearer to the opponent's goal line than both the ball and the second-last defender. At this World Cup, AI-generated 3D visualizations have helped explain refereeing decisions more clearly.

Brennan Klein, a lecturer at Northeastern University's Network Science Institute, told Northeastern Global News that AI's growing role in football is "inevitable" as teams increasingly rely on data collected from matches, training sessions and other activities to support analysis.

However, he said lengthy VAR reviews can interrupt the flow of matches. "If you go to a match and a VAR decision drags on for too long, there’s a palpable ire that starts to well up in the stands. Especially on complex calls, fans will boo and whistle during the deliberation."

Stephen Warren, who teaches in Northeastern University's Department of Communication Studies, said people value the human element of sport because it is "played by humans and not because it’s played by machines."

Kuda Muhlauri, an independent football coach based in Boston, U.S., also argued that technology should be used in moderation rather than scrutinizing every minor detail.

He said excessive intervention risks reducing the excitement of matches and making players hesitant to celebrate goals before they are confirmed. He added that technology should primarily be used for objective decisions such as offside calls and simulation.

"(When) you try to control every single play and everything, it takes away from why soccer is called ‘the beautiful game,’" he said, referring to the nickname popularized by Brazilian soccer legend Pelé. "That beauty also comes with (things not) being always perfect."