FIFA said there is no evidence that the match ball struck an overhead camera cable before England scored an equalizing goal against Norway.

The ruling settles a dispute over the validity of a critical score in the 2026 World Cup quarter-final. Because the ball appeared to touch a hanging wire during the build-up to the goal, the incident prompted a formal review of the play.

FIFA officials used Connected Ball Technology to investigate the trajectory of the ball. The technical team said that the system detected no contact between the ball and any overhead equipment [2]. This technology monitors the ball's movement and impact in real time to ensure accuracy in officiating.

"There is no evidence the ball struck an overhead cable," a FIFA spokesperson said [1].

The controversy centered on a goal by Jude Bellingham, which served as the equalizer in the match. Despite the concerns raised regarding the overhead equipment, the goal remained valid. England eventually won the match 2-1 [1].

The use of the tracking system allows FIFA to verify physical contact that may not be clearly visible to the naked eye or standard broadcast cameras. By confirming that no "peak in the heartbeat" or impact was detected, the governing body dismissed the possibility that the wire interfered with the play.

“"There is no evidence the ball struck an overhead cable."”

This decision reinforces FIFA's reliance on sensor-based technology over visual interpretation to resolve high-stakes disputes. By upholding the goal, FIFA has set a precedent for the 2026 tournament where Connected Ball Technology data serves as the definitive record for physical interference, reducing the likelihood of results being overturned by retrospective video analysis.