Video: Vincic cries after being tasked with officiating the World Cup final

Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić witnessed one of the most powerful moments of his refereeing career when he learned that he had been selected to officiate the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in a scene that reflected the magnitude of his achievement as he reached the biggest game in Slovenian football, writing his name in golden letters in Slovenian football history.

FIFA has announced the appointment of Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic for the 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina tomorrow, Sunday, at the MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey.

Vincic will conduct the match with the help of his compatriots Tomasz Klanchnik and Andraz Kovacic, who will act as assistant referees. The refereeing team also includes a prominent Arab presence as FIFA has named Jordanian referee Adham Makhama as the fourth official, with his compatriot Muhammad Al-Kalaf as the reserve assistant referee.

Slavko Vinčić will go down in history by becoming the first Slovenian referee to officiate a World Cup final, as well as the 23rd referee in the history of the tournament.

Vinčić is considered one of the most famous European referees and the most present on the international scene, as he is highly trusted by the European Football Association (UEFA) due to his outstanding level and accumulated experience of officiating major matches.

Spain’s clash with Argentina is the fourth match Vincic will take charge of in the current 2026 World Cup campaign, having taken charge of Brazil’s matches against Morocco, Algeria and Jordan, and Mexico against Ecuador, before he was honored to take charge of the World Cup final.