Slovenian official Slavko Vincic is the referee for Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium.
The 46-year-old from Maribor — who officiated the 2024 Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund — is the first person from his country to take charge of the world’s biggest football fixture.
He will be assisted by Tomaz Klancnik and Andraz Kovacic, both also from Slovenia, while German Bastian Dankert will be the VAR. Dankert will be assisted by Nicolas Gallo from Colombia.
Vincic was in tears when he was given the news of his appointment at FIFA’s referee team base in Miami on Thursday.
“So, first of all, a shock. Then happiness. I was shaking, so it’s an incredible honour to get the World Cup final,” he said. “It’s something that … it’s only a dream for a referee, for a young referee when they start. So, I’m very proud, very proud of myself, my team.
“It’s very difficult to put everything into words, but I’m very proud to represent my country, Slovenia, in the biggest sporting event in the world,” he added. “I’m very proud. My team is very proud and we will do our best.”
Introducing your referee for the @FIFAWorldCup 2026 Final….🥁
Congratulations, Slavko Vinčić! 👏 pic.twitter.com/OMLJ3oA31p
— FIFA (@FIFAcom) July 17, 2026
What is his experience?
Sunday’s game at Metlife Stadium will be Vincic’s first Argentina match since overseeing their shock 2-1 defeat by Saudi Arabia in the opening round of the 2022 World Cup’s group stage.
He has officiated Spain three times, all victories at the European Championship finals, including their semi-final win against France in 2024 before they went on to win the tournament.
Vincic is appearing at his second World Cup and fourth major national-team tournament, while he has significant experience in European club football. He was also in charge of the 2021-22 Europa League final between Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers.
In last season’s Champions League quarter-finals, Vincic sent off Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga for a second yellow card offence in the 86th minute of their second leg at Bayern Munich, when the tie was 4-4 on aggregate, before the German side scored two late goals to progress. The midfielder was deemed to have delayed a restart by throwing the ball away. He also dismissed Madrid’s Arda Guler, who got two bookings for dissent at the end.
Vincic was in charge for England’s 3-0 group-stage defeat of Wales at the 2022 finals.
How has he fared at this tournament?
Sunday’s final will be his fourth game of the tournament — and a sixth World Cup match overall — and first since he dismissed Ecuador’s Piero Hincapie for covering his mouth while confronting Mexico’s Santiago Gimenez in the round of 32.
He also took charge of the group-stage meetings at this edition between Brazil and Morocco, and Jordan and Algeria.
Why Vincic appointment is unusual
Refereeing expert Graham Scott
The appointment of Slavko Vincic came as something of a surprise, given the historical Fifa policy of selecting officials from a different continent to the two finalists.
But the Slovenian is held in the highest esteem by FIFA head of referees Pierluigi Collina, and it is clear the former Italian ref gets his own way, whatever the politics.
It was not supposed to be Europe’s turn, as Szymon Marciniak of Poland had the honour last time. And a Europe vs. South America final would normally have demanded an Asian, African or North American referee.
Vincic is cut in similar cloth to Collina in style, if not visually, in that he is tough and takes no nonsense. There were nine yellow cards when he refereed Argentinian side River Plate against Monterrey of Mexico at FIFA’s Club World Cup last year.
He refereed Real Madrid twice in the UEFA Champions League last season, with the Spaniards winning one and losing the other.
At this tournament he has kept a low profile despite awarding 30 free kicks when Brazil met Morocco, and has not featured since the round of 32 when he oversaw Mexico’s win over Ecuador. In that match, he sent Hincapie off.
I would expect him to keep things tight early on, so anticipate a high foul count in the first half. Barring a situation in which he has no choice, yellow cards will wait for at least the first quarter, but that of course is also in the gift of the players.
Spare a thought for Iranian official Alireza Faghani, 48, whose international career closes without him receiving the prize he arguably deserved after becoming the first ref to appear at four World Cups.
He was tipped for the final in 2018, 2022 and this time, but key errors have cost him. He may well have been selected had he awarded Kylian Mbappe the penalty he deserved in the France vs. Senegal match, and then not needed VAR to identify an offence when England’s Jarell Quansah was guilty of serious foul play against Mexico.