Cricket's 'Snicko' technology makes debut in football World Cup

Cricket's 'Snicko' technology makes debut in football World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has introduced a technology borrowed from cricket to resolve contentious decisions and determine whether the ball has touched a player. The system made its decisive debut during Sweden's 5-1 victory over Tunisia in Monterrey, Mexico, on Sunday, June 14 .

A dramatic moment occurred in the 84th minute when Swedish substitute Mattias Svanberg scored just seconds after coming on. The assistant referee immediately raised his flag for offside . However, Sweden's players protested, arguing that Alexander Isak had touched the ball in the build-up, which would have played Svanberg onside .

With the margin of contact extremely fine, VAR officials turned to 'Snicko' technology — more commonly associated with cricket. The system, which uses a motion-sensing microchip inside the ball that tracks touches 500 times per second, detected a clear spike at the exact moment the ball passed Isak's boot . The goal was subsequently awarded, and Svanberg was able to celebrate for a second time .

The technology is being used at the World Cup to improve the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, particularly for handball decisions, fouls, and determining touches before goals . The match ball is fitted with a microchip that sends precise data to the VAR room in real time, displaying a graphic showing the exact moment of contact — similar to the snickometer used in cricket to detect edges off the bat .

The system was previously used at Euro 2024, where Belgium's Romelu Lukaku had a goal disallowed after the technology showed a handball by Lois Openda in the build-up . It was also used at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, though without the graphics being broadcast to viewers.

While some coaches and analysts have expressed concern that excessive reliance on technology could affect the natural flow of the game, FIFA officials believe the system will reduce controversial decisions and help referees make more accurate calls.