FIFA using cricket's tech in World Cup: Snicko saves the day in Sweden vs Tunisia

FIFA World Cup 2026: A cricket-style "Snicko" system was used in VAR review to determine whether Alexander Isak had made a faint touch in the build-up to Sweden's fourth goal against Tunisia.

In Short

• An early long-range finish set the tone for Sweden's aggressive evening
• Svanberg's goal was given following assistance through cricket like Snicko tech
• Relentless pressing forced errors in build-up and choked Tunisia's transitions throughout

Sweden’s FIFA World Cup 2026 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 appeared to be their fourth goal of the match. Mattias Svanberg, introduced as a substitute, thought he had written his name on the scoresheet almost immediately after finishing from close range following a set-piece move.

The Wolfsburg midfielder slid the ball home just 18 seconds after a restart, making him the second fastest substitute to score in the history of FIFA World Cup, sparking wild celebrations among the Sweden players. However, the assistant referee’s flag went up instantly, ruling the effort offside and cutting the celebrations short.

Sweden’s players and coaching staff immediately protested, insisting there had been a crucial touch in the build-up from Alexander Isak. Their argument was that the slight deflection from the Liverpool forward had played Svanberg onside, making the decision incorrect.

With the margin of contact so fine, the VAR officials turned to an unconventional solution more commonly associated with cricket than football. The broadcast-style “Snicko” technology, which detects minute audio and visual spikes when contact is made with the ball, was used to determine whether Isak had indeed touched it.

In a remarkable crossover between sports technology, the Snicko graph reportedly showed a clear spike at the exact moment the ball passed Isak’s boot, confirming even the slightest of touches. That evidence was enough to overturn the on-field decision.

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 in what would become a commanding 5-1 win.

SWEDEN'S DOMINATION IN MONTERREY

Beyond the technology controversy, Sweden’s performance was a clear statement of intent on the world stage. Yasin Ayari opened the scoring with a thunderous 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, capping a standout individual performance.

Tunisia, meanwhile, struggled to cope with Sweden’s pace and intensity in both transitions and build-up phases. They were only briefly threatening through set-piece situations and occasional flashes in midfield, but they were largely pushed back and forced into errors under constant pressure. Ultimately, they were overwhelmed across the pitch, unable to contain Sweden’s movement or cope with the clinical edge in front of goal.

Sweden will now go on top of Group F before they play against the Netherlands on June 20, while Tunisia would like to get back on their feet after the horror night in Monterrey against Japan.

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