Slavko Vinčić has been appointed to referee the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium.
The 46-year-old will become the first Slovenian and the 23rd referee overall to take charge of a men’s World Cup final when the two teams meet on Sunday, July 19.
Vinčić was informed of the decision by FIFA’s chief refereeing officer, Pierluigi Collina.
“First of all, a shock. Then happiness,” Vinčić said, according to FIFA’s official announcement. “I was shaking, so it’s an incredible honour to get the World Cup final.”
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Performance earned final appointment
Collina said Vinčić’s performances throughout the tournament were the main reason behind his selection.
The Slovenian has refereed three matches at the 2026 World Cup. He took charge of Brazil’s group-stage meeting with Morocco, Jordan against Algeria and Mexico’s round-of-32 match with Ecuador.
The final will therefore be his fourth assignment of the tournament. He has not previously refereed Spain or Argentina during this World Cup, although FIFA did not identify that as a decisive factor in his appointment.
Collina explained that a referee’s performances and previous assignments are considered alongside the involvement of the official’s home country. Slovenia did not qualify for the tournament.
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Experienced team joins Vinčić
Vinčić will be assisted by fellow Slovenians Tomaž Klančnik and Andraž Kovačič.
Jordan’s Adham Makhadmeh has been appointed as the fourth official, while Mohammad Al-Kalaf, also from Jordan, will serve as the reserve assistant referee.
German official Bastian Dankert will lead the video assistant referee team. Colombia’s Nicolás Gallo will act as assistant VAR, with Qatar’s Khamis Al Marri providing additional support.
“Refereeing is all about teamwork,” Vinčić said. “Without Tomaž and Andraž, this is not possible.”
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Proven record in major finals
The World Cup appointment is the latest major assignment of Vinčić’s career.
He refereed the 2022 Europa League final between Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers before being selected for the 2024 Champions League final between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid at Wembley.
According to UEFA, Vinčić had already been an international referee for 14 years when he received the Champions League final appointment.
He also officiated at Euro 2020 and Euro 2024, including Spain’s semifinal victory over France at the latter tournament. This will be his second World Cup after he handled two matches in Qatar in 2022.
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Vinčić wants to remain out of the spotlight
A World Cup final places enormous pressure on the referee, with every major decision likely to be examined from multiple angles.
Vinčić said his preparations would remain largely unchanged. His team will analyse both finalists before focusing on staying mentally and physically fresh for the match.
“We will do our best so that we will not be a topic after the match,” he said.
That will be the measure of success for the Slovenian team. Spain and Argentina will enter the stadium competing for football’s biggest prize, while Vinčić’s task will be to ensure the game, rather than its officials, dominates the discussion.
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