When Spain and Argentina step onto the pitch for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on Sunday, one of the most closely watched figures will not be wearing either nation’s colours but the referee entrusted with overseeing football’s most prestigious match.
The responsibility has been handed to Slovenian official Slavko Vinčić, whose appointment places him among a select group of referees chosen to officiate a FIFA World Cup final.
At 46, the Maribor-born referee will become the first official from Slovenia to take charge of the tournament’s showpiece event and only the 23rd referee in history to oversee a World Cup final.
The announcement marked a significant milestone in a career that has steadily progressed through domestic, European and international football over several years.
The decision was communicated by the FIFA Chief Refereeing Officer And Chairman Of The FIFA Referees Committee, Pierluigi Collina, in a moment that reflected the significance of the appointment.
Reacting to the news, Vinčić described the occasion as one of the most memorable moments of his professional life.
“First of all, a shock. Then happiness. I was shaking. It’s an incredible honour to get the World Cup final,” Vinčić said.
“It’s only a dream for a referee when they start their career. I’m very proud of myself and my team.
“It’s very difficult to put everything into words, but I’m very proud to represent my country, Slovenia, at the biggest sporting event in the world. My team is very proud, and we will do our best.”
The 2026 tournament represents Vinčić’s second appearance at a FIFA World Cup after he previously officiated two group-stage matches during the 2022 edition in Qatar.
His performances during the current tournament have included Brazil’s Group C draw against Morocco, Algeria’s victory over Jordan in Group J and Mexico’s Round of 32 encounter with Ecuador.
Those assignments formed part of FIFA’s assessment process before selecting him for the final between Spain and Argentina.
Long before receiving the World Cup final appointment, Vinčić had already established himself as one of Europe’s leading referees through a series of high-profile assignments.
UCL officiating
In 2024, UEFA selected him to officiate the Champions League final at Wembley Stadium, where Real Madrid defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-0.
That appointment made him only the second Slovenian referee to handle a Champions League final after Damir Skomina achieved the feat in 2019.
His résumé also includes the 2022 UEFA Europa League final, which saw Eintracht Frankfurt overcome Rangers in a penalty shootout.
Despite the personal recognition attached to the World Cup final assignment, Vinčić stressed that refereeing success is built on collective effort rather than individual achievement.
He paid tribute to assistant referees Tomaž Klančnik and Andraž Kovačič, who have worked alongside him throughout much of his career.
“Refereeing is all about teamwork. Without them, without Tomaž and Andraž, this is not possible,” he said.
“I’m really happy that I’ve had them throughout my career. We are really good friends, a good team, and thanks to them.”
For the final itself, Jordanian official Adham Makhadmeh will serve as fourth official, while Mohammad Al-Kalaf has been appointed reserve assistant referee.
The FIFA Chief Refereeing Officer And Chairman Of The FIFA Referees Committee, Pierluigi Collina, said the selection process involved extensive evaluation throughout the competition.
According to him, performances during matches remained the primary consideration when determining who would receive the final assignment.
“It’s a long process. There are many pieces of the puzzle that have to be combined,” Collina said.
“The performances are what matter the most. Of course, the matches they refereed before, and also the fact that his team is not playing in this competition, but mainly performances. At the end of the day, that’s what really matters.”
Collina also acknowledged the emotional significance attached to informing referees that they have been selected for football’s biggest occasion.
“It’s emotional for the referees, but it is very emotional also for me. This is the third time I’ve done it at a FIFA World Cup, and I still get goosebumps,” he said.
As preparations continue for Sunday’s encounter, Vinčić said his approach would remain consistent with the methods that guided him through previous matches.
“Preparation will not change much. We will analyse the teams again, even though we’ve been following them for more than 40 days,” he said.
“We’ll stay focused, try to be mentally fresh and physically fresh, and we’ll do our best so that we will not be a topic after the match.”
For a referee whose career has taken him from Slovenia’s domestic competitions to Europe’s biggest finals, the World Cup final represents the highest assignment in international football and a landmark moment for both Vinčić and Slovenian refereeing.
