The debate intensified after the 2026 World Cup, where narrowly disallowed goals became a recurring talking point. The report says 17 goals had been ruled out by the end of the round of 32 that would have counted under the proposed interpretation.
The Portugal-Croatia match in Toronto provided a sharp example, with four goals disallowed. Two would reportedly have stood under the daylight test, including a Cristiano Ronaldo effort ruled out because of an advancing shoulder. Similar fine margins affected Colombia’s Davinson Sánchez and Iran’s Shoja Khalilzadeh.
Under the trial, an attacker could be slightly closer to goal and remain onside unless there is visible space between them and the second-last defender when the pass is played. That would remove some of the most contentious line-drawing decisions, particularly when a shoulder, boot or knee extends marginally beyond the defensive line.
The trade-off is tactical. Defenders may need to hold deeper positions or accept that a higher line carries greater risk. More attacking players could time runs aggressively, creating additional chances and potentially restoring spontaneity to moments currently stopped for prolonged reviews.
Supporters believe the change would make offside easier for spectators to understand and shift the balance back towards attacking football. Critics will worry that “daylight” is less precise than a shared digital line and could create fresh disputes over what constitutes a clear gap.
The CPL trial therefore matters beyond Canada. If the test produces fewer stoppages while preserving meaningful defensive structure, it could build momentum for wider adoption. The next stage will be whether the league moves towards permanent use-and whether football’s lawmakers are prepared to turn an experiment into a global rule change.