Slavko Vinčić will be the man in the middle when Argentina face Spain in the highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup final. The experienced Slovenian referee has been handed the biggest assignment of his officiating career, adding another prestigious fixture to an already impressive résumé.
The 46-year-old will become the first Slovenian referee to officiate a FIFA World Cup Final and only the 23rd match official in history to take charge of the tournament's showpiece game.
Who Is Slavko Vinčić?
Born in Maribor, Slovenia, Vinčić has established himself as one of European football's most experienced referees. A FIFA-listed referee since 2010, he has spent years officiating at the highest level of domestic and international football.
Vinčić has accumulated experience across major UEFA competitions, including the Champions League and Europa League, before earning opportunities on the World Cup stage.
His biggest club assignment came in 2024, when he refereed the UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund. He also took charge of the 2022 UEFA Europa League final between Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers, further underlining his credentials for high-pressure occasions.
Vinčić's World Cup Experience and Messi Connection
The 2026 tournament is Vinčić's second FIFA World Cup as a referee. He made his World Cup debut at Qatar 2022, officiating two group-stage matches.
Interestingly, one of those games was Argentina's shock 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia. That result ended Argentina's long unbeaten run, although Lionel Messi and his teammates recovered to eventually lift the trophy.
At the 2026 World Cup, Vinčić has already officiated three matches before receiving the final appointment. FIFA said his performance throughout the tournament was a major factor behind the decision to give him the prestigious assignment.
Has Slavko Vinčić been a referee for Lamine Yamal's Spain?
Slavko Vinčić has officiated several Spain matches over the years, but only two have featured Lamine Yamal. Both came during Spain's victorious UEFA Euro 2024 campaign. Vinčić oversaw Spain's 1-0 group-stage win over Italy before taking charge of the thrilling 2-1 semifinal victory against France, where Yamal scored his stunning long-range equalizer. The teenager heads into the 2026 World Cup final with a perfect record under the Slovenian referee.
Who Will Assist Vinčić in the World Cup Final?
Vinčić will be joined by fellow Slovenians Tomaž Klančnik and Andraž Kovačič as assistant referees for the Argentina vs Spain final. Jordan's Adham Makhadmeh will serve as the fourth official, while Mohammad Al-Kalaf will be the reserve assistant referee.
Germany's Bastian Dankert has been appointed as the VAR, supported by Colombia's Nicolás Gallo and Qatar's Khamis Al Marri.
Slavko Vinčić’s Refereeing Stats
Since 2010, Slavko Vinčić has refereed around 500 matches, averaging more than four yellow cards and 0.23 red cards per game. However, his approach at the FIFA World Cup has been less card-heavy, with three yellow cards shown across his five matches at the tournament. At the 2026 World Cup, Vinčić also issued the first red card of his international refereeing career, sending off Ecuador defender Piero Hincapié during their Round of 32 defeat.
The Biggest Match of Vinčić's Career
Despite refereeing Champions League and Europa League finals, taking charge of a FIFA World Cup final represents a new career high for Slavko Vinčić.
With defending champions Argentina facing European champions Spain, the Slovenian will be responsible for overseeing one of the most eagerly awaited matches in recent World Cup history. His appointment also marks a historic moment for Slovenian refereeing, as Vinčić prepares to step onto football's biggest stage for the most important 90 minutes of his officiating career.
