New Delhi: Cricket fans are used to seeing the famous ‘Snicko’ technique that helps umpires determine whether a batsman has bowled the ball. But on Monday, a similar piece of technology appeared during the 2026 World Cup match between Sweden and Tunisia at Monterrey Stadium.While Sweden’s dominant 5-1 win grabbed the headlines, it was the lengthy video review including substitute Mattias Svanberg’s goal that caught the attention of fans around the world.
The incident occurred in the 84th minute, when Svanberg scored just 18 seconds after coming on as a substitute. However, the assistant referee declared offside and canceled the goal.The decision sparked protests from the Swedish bench, with players and staff saying the ball touched Alexander Isak before it reached Svanberg.To check the sequence, officials resorted to a ball-contact technique that closely resembles snicko cricket. The system showed a clear spike when the ball passed Isaac, confirming the touch and changing the interpretation of the play.After review, the goal was awarded, which pleased the Swedish players and fans.Sweden went on to record a convincing 5-1 win in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Yacine Ayari scored two goals, while Victor Geukeris, Alexander Isak and Svanberg each added a goal.
For Tunisia, it was a difficult start to the tournament. Coach Sabri Lamouchi expressed his disappointment after the match.
“It is a difficult loss,” Lamouchi said, according to Reuters. “It is painful. Starting the competition with such a bad loss is really difficult.”He also pointed out his team’s mistakes on the field, adding: “We made a lot of mistakes.”The defeat leaves Tunisia under pressure before its next match against Japan, while Sweden looks to build on its strong start when it faces the Netherlands on June 20.