FIFA uses cricket technology at World Cup: Snicko saves the day in Sweden against Tunisia

Sweden’s 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against Tunisia at the Stadio Monterrey on June 15 produced a dramatic moment rarely seen in football as cricket-style technology helped decide one of their goals in a dominant 5-1 victory.

FIFA World Cup Sweden vs Tunisia: Highlights

The Scandinavian side were already on a rampage in Group F, but the most unusual twist of the night came during what initially looked to be their fourth goal of the game. Mattias Svanberg, introduced as a substitute, thought he had got his name on the scoresheet almost immediately after finishing from close range following a set-piece.

The Wolfsburg midfielder slotted home just 18 seconds after the restart to become the second-fastest substitute scorer in World Cup history, sparking wild celebrations among Sweden’s players. However, the assistant referee’s flag immediately went up, ruling it offside and cutting the celebrations short. Mattias Svanberg and Alexander Isak celebrate together (Photo Reuters)

Sweden’s players and coaching staff immediately protested, insisting that there was a crucial hit from Alexander Isak in the lineup. Their argument was that a slight deviation from the Liverpool forward played Svanberg to the side, so the decision was wrong.

With such a good rate of contact, VAR officials turned to an unconventional solution more often associated with cricket than football. Broadcast-style “Snicko” technology, which detects tiny audio and visual spikes when the ball is contacted, was used to determine if Isak actually touched it.

In a remarkable transition between sports technology, Snicko’s graph reportedly showed a clear spike at the precise moment the ball passed Isak’s boot, confirming even the tiniest of touches. This evidence was enough to overturn the on-field decision. Spike in the graph when the ball went past Isak’s leg (screenshot from X)

The goal was subsequently awarded and Svanberg was able to celebrate for a second time, this time officially completing Sweden’s fourth strike of the night. which would make it a commanding 5-1 victory.

SWEDISH DOMINATION IN MONTERREY

Technology controversy aside, Sweden’s performance was a clear statement of intent on the world stage. Yasin Ayari opened the scoring with a lightning early strike before Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres added further goals in a ruthless attacking display built on speed, precision and relentless pressing. Ayari later completed his brace to round off the scoring in style and cap off an outstanding individual performance.

Tunisia, meanwhile, struggled to match Sweden’s pace and intensity in both the transition and build-up phases. They only threatened briefly from set-pieces and occasional flashes in midfield, but were largely pushed and forced into mistakes under constant pressure. In the end, they were overwhelmed on the pitch, unable to contain Sweden’s movement or cope with a clinical presence in front of goal.

Sweden will now top Group F before taking on the Netherlands on June 20, while Tunisia will be keen to bounce back after a horror night in Monterrey against Japan.

Football World Cup | FIFA World Cup Schedule | FIFA World Cup Points Table | football news

– The end

Published on:

15 Jun 2026 11:57 IST