Meet the Referee for the 2026 World Cup Final: Everything You Need to Know About Slavko Vinčić

• Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić will officiate the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, becoming the first official from Slovenia to take charge of football’s biggest match.

Here’s everything you need to know about him.

When Spain and Argentina battle for the 2026 FIFA World Cup title on Sunday, one man will also be making history on the pitch — Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić.

The 46-year-old has been appointed by FIFA to officiate the tournament’s final, becoming the first Slovenian referee ever to oversee a FIFA World Cup final and only the 23rd official in history to handle football’s biggest match.

Here’s everything you need to know about the experienced match official.

First Slovenian to Officiate a World Cup Final

Vinčić received the news from FIFA Chief Refereeing Officer and Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, Pierluigi Collina, during an emotional meeting.

Reacting to the appointment, the Maribor-born referee described the moment as the fulfilment of a lifelong dream.

“First of all, a shock. Then happiness. I was shaking. It’s an incredible honour to get the World Cup final.

“It’s only a dream for a referee when they start their career. I’m very proud of myself and my team.”

He added that representing Slovenia on football’s biggest stage is one of the proudest moments of his career.

His World Cup Journey

The 2026 tournament marks Vinčić’s second FIFA World Cup after making his debut at the 2022 edition in Qatar.

During this year’s competition, he has officiated several key matches, including:

• Brazil vs Morocco (Group C)
• Algeria vs Jordan (Group J)
• Mexico vs Ecuador (Round of 32)

His consistent performances throughout the tournament convinced FIFA to hand him the final.

A Referee With Big-Match Experience

Although this will be his first World Cup final, Vinčić is no stranger to major football occasions.

In 2024, UEFA selected him to referee the UEFA Champions League final at Wembley, where Real Madrid defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-0.

He also officiated the 2022 UEFA Europa League final between Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers.

Those appointments made him only the second Slovenian referee, after Damir Skomina, to officiate a Champions League final.

His Officiating Team

Vinčić believes the achievement belongs to his entire refereeing crew.

His assistant referees for Sunday’s final are:

• Tomaž Klančnik
• Andraž Kovačič

Jordan’s Adham Makhadmeh will serve as fourth official, while Mohammad Al-Kalaf will be the reserve assistant referee.

Why FIFA Chose Him

According to FIFA’s Chief Refereeing Officer, Pierluigi Collina, the decision was based primarily on Vinčić’s performances throughout the tournament.

Collina explained that referees are evaluated over several weeks, but their performances on the field remain the most important factor.

He also noted that informing officials they have been selected for the World Cup final remains one of the tournament’s most emotional moments.

How He’s Preparing

Despite the enormous pressure of officiating football’s biggest game, Vinčić insists his preparation will remain unchanged.

He said he and his team will continue studying both finalists, remain mentally and physically fresh, and aim to ensure that the referees are not the talking point after the final whistle.

If he succeeds, Vinčić will not only make history for Slovenia but also join an exclusive list of referees trusted to oversee the biggest match in world football.