Portugal overcame Croatia 3-2 in a dramatic World Cup 2026 qualifier on Friday, but the match was overshadowed by four Portugal goals being disallowed after VAR interventions. Coach Roberto Martínez expressed frustration at the decisions, though his side eventually secured the win.
Match Overview
The encounter at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon saw Portugal take an early lead through João Félix in the 12th minute, only for Croatia to equalize via Luka Modrić’s penalty in the 28th minute. Portugal regained the lead before halftime with a goal from Bruno Fernandes, but Croatia struck back again through Andrej Kramarić just before the hour mark. The decisive moment came in the 78th minute when Diogo Jota headed home from a corner to make it 3-2.
Four Disallowed Goals
Despite the victory, the match will be remembered for the four Portugal goals that were ruled out. The first was a Cristiano Ronaldo header in the 22nd minute, disallowed for offside after a VAR check. In the 35th minute, a goal from Bernardo Silva was chalked off for a foul in the build-up. After the break, Ronaldo had another goal disallowed for offside in the 52nd minute, and in the 67th minute, a strike from João Cancelo was ruled out for handball.
Martínez said: “It’s incredible to have four goals disallowed in one match. We need to understand the consistency of VAR decisions. But I’m proud of the team’s resilience to keep going and get the win.”
Impact on Group Standings
The result leaves Portugal top of Group A with 15 points from six matches, three points ahead of second-placed Croatia. The victory puts Portugal in a strong position to qualify directly for the World Cup, with four games remaining. Croatia, meanwhile, face an uphill battle to secure an automatic spot.
According to FIFA statistics, this is the first time in World Cup qualifying history that a team has had four goals disallowed in a single match. The previous record was three, set by Germany in 2017.
Reactions and Aftermath
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić expressed frustration at the result but praised his team’s performance. “We played well and created chances, but Portugal were clinical when it mattered. The disallowed goals are not my concern; we must focus on our own mistakes.”
The match also saw a moment of controversy when Croatia’s Ivan Perišić was sent off in stoppage time for a second yellow card, reducing his side to ten men. Perišić will now miss Croatia’s next qualifier against Slovakia.
Portugal’s next match is against Luxembourg on Tuesday, while Croatia host Slovakia on the same day. Both teams will be looking to build on their performances as the race for World Cup 2026 qualification intensifies.
