World Cup 2026: What is football’s ‘Snicko’ and how does it work?

‘Snicko’ in sport is more traditionally associated with cricket, but in recent years, football has adopted similar technology.

The Trionda match ball, made by Adidas for this year’s World Cup, has a microchip in it that can detect when the ball has been touched.

It is part of Adidas’ Connected Ball Technology, allowing precise data such as every individual touch of the ball with a boot or hand to be immediately sent to the Video Assistant Referee in real time.

Adidas say the technology “enables faster in-game officiating decisions and more insight into gameplay than ever before.”

When Svanberg’s goal was awarded, replays showed a flat-line sensor on the screen that had a spike as the ball passed Isak’s outstretched foot, confirming that he got a touch on the ball that was not necessarily obvious to the naked eye.

Similar technology has also been used at the 2022 World Cup and 2024 European Championships.

At the Qatar World Cup, ‘Snicko’ was able to prove Bruno Fernandes scored Portugal’s opening goal during a 2-0 win over Uruguay.

His cross towards Cristiano Ronaldo in the penalty area was enough to beat goalkeeper Sergio Rochet, which Ronaldo celebrated while claiming he had headed the delivery in, although the technology then showed he did not touch the ball.

And at Euro 2024, Belgium had a goal disallowed against Slovakia following another ‘Snicko’ review.

Romelu Lukau had initially been awarded an equaliser, but the review using the technology clearly showed teammate Lois Openda handle the ball in the build-up to the goal.