Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić will make history on Sunday when he takes charge of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final between Argentina and Spain at New York New Jersey Stadium, becoming the first official from his country and only the 23rd person ever to officiate football’s biggest match. FIFA Chief Refereeing Officer Pierluigi Collina informed the 46 year old from Maribor of his appointment this week, prompting an emotional reaction. “First of all, a shock. Then happiness. I was shaking,” Vinčić said. “It’s an incredible honor. It’s something that’s only a dream for a referee when they start.” The appointment crowns a rapid ascent through the elite ranks of European officiating that has seen him handle major finals across the continent’s premier club competitions.
Vinčić’s journey to the World Cup showpiece has been methodical and decorated. He earned his FIFA badge in 2010 and climbed through Slovenia’s domestic divisions before breaking into the UEFA Champions League in 2016. His breakthrough on the continental stage came in 2022 when he refereed the UEFA Europa League final between Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers in Seville. Two years later, he stood at the center of the 2024 Champions League final at Wembley, overseeing Real Madrid’s victory over Borussia Dortmund, making him only the second Slovenian after Damir Skomina to handle Europe’s biggest club fixture. He also officiated at UEFA Euro 2020 and Euro 2024, including the semi final between Spain and France, and took charge of two matches at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. At this tournament, he has already whistled for Brazil versus Morocco and Jordan versus Algeria in the group stage, plus Mexico against Ecuador in the round of 32.
The Slovenian was quick to deflect personal credit toward his tight knit officiating team, particularly assistant referees Tomaž Klančnik and Andraž Kovačič, who will join him on the line in New Jersey. “Refereeing is all about teamwork,” he stressed. “Without them, without Tomaž and Andraž, this is not possible.” Collina, who has now announced three World Cup final referee appointments during his tenure, said performance throughout the tournament was the decisive factor. “It’s a long process,” the Italian explained. “Many pieces of the puzzle have to be combined to get the picture of the final referee, and it’s something that goes through the competition. Of course, performances matter the most.” Vinčić said his preparation would follow the same rigorous pattern that carried him through the tournament, analyzing the teams, staying mentally and physically fresh, and ensuring the officials do not become the story. “We will do our best so that we will not be a topic after the match,” he pledged.
The full officiating roster for the final has been confirmed. Jordanian Adham Makhadmeh will serve as fourth official, with compatriot Mohammad Al-Kalaf as reserve assistant. In the video operations room, German Bastian Dankert takes the VAR role, supported by Colombian Nicolás Gallo and Qatari Khamis Al Marri. For Saturday’s third place playoff between France and England in Miami, Venezuela’s Jesús Valenzuela has been appointed referee, with Uruguayan Leodán González on VAR duty. The assignments reflect FIFA’s effort to distribute representation across confederations while rewarding consistent high level performance. For a nation of two million people with no major footballing pedigree, Vinčić’s presence at the center of the World Cup final represents a singular achievement, one that began with a 20 year old starting out in Maribor’s third division and, nearly 25 years later, lands him on the biggest stage in sport.
