Snicko in football? Cricket-style technology steals the show during FIFA World Cup 2026 clash between Sweden and Tunisia

NEW DELHI: Cricket fans are used to seeing the famous ‘Snicko’ technology that helps umpires determine whether a batsman has bowled the ball. But on Monday, similar technology appeared during the FIFA World Cup 2026 match between Sweden and Tunisia at the Stadio Monterrey.While Sweden’s dominant 5-1 victory grabbed the headlines, it was a lengthy video review including substitute Mattias Svanberg’s goal that caught the attention of fans around the world. The incident took place in the 84th minute when Svanberg found the net just 18 seconds after coming on as a substitute. However, the assistant referee reported offside and ruled out the goal.The decision sparked protests from the Swedish bench, with players and staff arguing that the ball had touched Alexander Isak before reaching Svanberg.To verify the sequence, the officials turned to ball contact technology, which closely resembles cricket’s Snick. The system showed a clear peak when the ball went past Isak, confirming the touch and changing the interpretation of the play.After a review, the goal was awarded, much to the delight of the Swedish players and supporters.Sweden registered a convincing 5-1 victory in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Yasin Ayari scored twice, Victor Gyokeres, Alexander Isak and Svanberg added one each.It was a tough start to the tournament for Tunisia. Head coach Sabri Lamouchi expressed his disappointment after the match.“It’s a tough loss. It’s painful. It’s really hard to start a competition with a loss like that,” Lamouchi said, according to Reuters.He also pointed to his side’s mistakes on the pitch, adding: “We made too many mistakes.”The defeat leaves Tunisia under pressure ahead of their next game against Japan, while Sweden will look to build on their good start when they face the Netherlands on June 20.