Revealed: Slavko Vinčić’s incredible record, Argentina vs Spain World Cup final referee, with Messi and Yamal’s sides | Football News
FIFA has handed Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić the biggest appointment of his career, confirming that he will officiate Sunday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup final between defending champions Argentina and Spain at the New York New Jersey Stadium.The 46-year-old has spent nearly two decades rising through the refereeing ranks in European football and has now become the man tasked with overseeing one of the most anticipated World Cup finals in recent history. He will be assisted by fellow Slovenians Tomaž Klančnik and Andraž Kovačič, while Adham Makhadmeh of Jordan has been appointed as the fourth official and Mohammad Alkalaf reserve assistant referee.For Vinčić, the appointment represents the culmination of a career built on steady progress through domestic, European and international football.
From Slovenia to football’s biggest stage
Born in Maribor, Slovenia, in 1979, Vinčić began refereeing professionally in his homeland’s top division in 2007 before earning his FIFA international badge in 2010.His performances quickly established him among UEFA’s elite officials, leading to regular appointments in the Champions League and Europa League.In the last decade, he has overseen some of the biggest occasions in European football, including the 2022 UEFA Europa League final between Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers and the 2024 UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund.Alongside his club duties, Vinčić has been a regular at international tournaments, officiating UEFA Euro 2020, Euro 2024, the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and now the 2026 World Cup, where his performances earned him the showpiece fixture of the tournament.According to that TransfermarktVinčić officiated more than 500 senior professional matches, issued 2,093 yellow cards, 113 red cards and awarded 117 penalties during his career.
The World Cup journey has reached its peak
Sunday’s final will be Vinčić’s eighth World Cup match in the last two tournaments.He first appeared at the World Cup in Qatar in 2022 before returning for four more appointments during the 2026 tournament. Those performances convinced FIFA’s refereeing department to award him the final between Spain and Argentina.Earlier in this World Cup, Vinčić oversaw Brazil’s group-stage draw with Morocco, Algeria’s win over Jordan and Mexico’s Round of 32 win over Ecuador.
Referee Slavko Vincic, of Slovenia, talks with Ecuador’s Piero Hincapie (3) during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
The knockout fixture attracted particular attention after Vinčić dismissed Ecuador defender Piero Hincapié following a VAR review for covering his mouth while talking to Mexico striker Santiago Giménez, marking the first red card of his major international tournament career after previously managing ten matches at the World Cup and European Championship without sending off a player.
His record in Argentina
Despite Argentina’s regular appearances at major tournaments, Vinčić has refereed Lionel Scaloni’s side just once before.That lone encounter came in one of the most memorable matches of the 2022 World Cup, Argentina’s shock 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in their opening group stage match.The Slovenian official awarded Argentina an early penalty after Leandro Paredes was fouled inside the area, allowing Lionel Messi to score from the spot, and later showed six yellow cards to the Saudi Arabian players.Although Argentina suffered one of the biggest defeats in World Cup history that afternoon, they recovered to win six consecutive matches and lift the trophy in Qatar.Sunday’s final will be only Argentina’s second match of Vinčić’s international refereeing career.
Spain’s unbeaten record under Vinčić
Spain, on the contrary, has always met with Vinčić, even if all the meetings have come in UEFA competitions, because the Slovenian referee has not managed Spain in a FIFA World Cup match before this 2026 final appointment.Before the final, he took charge of four matches involving La Roja, with Spain remaining unbeaten in each of them.
Before the emergence of Lamine Yamal
Vinčić’s first assignments involving Spain came before Lamine Yamal’s rise to senior international level.His first match for Spain came in a 2017 friendly against Colombia, which ended in a 2-2 draw, before he managed Spain’s goalless Euro 2020 group stage draw against Sweden. He was later appointed for the UEFA Nations League semi-final clash with Italy’s La Roja in 2023, where Spain secured a 2-1 victory, further highlighting his involvement in major European games.Vinčić also managed Spain during the emergence of Lamine Yamal, including two decisive games in their Euro 2024 victory.These included Spain’s 1-0 group stage win over Italy and the memorable 2-1 semi-final win over France, where Yamal scored his stunning long-range equalizer before Spain completed another comeback on their way to lifting the European Championship.Between the two phases, before and after Yamal’s collapse, Spain maintained a perfect record under Vinčić, remaining unbeaten in all four matches.That difference adds an interesting subplot to the end, with Spain yet to lose at its whistle, while Argentina’s first experience with the Slovenian official ended in defeat.
The race continues after the police investigation in 2020
Away from football, Vinčić briefly found himself making international headlines in 2020 after he was caught in a police raid on a suspected prostitution and organized crime operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.Slovenian authorities and Vinčić have consistently said that he attended a business meeting and was not involved in any criminal activity. He was released without charge, but charges were filed against him and he returned to office shortly thereafter.His successive coaching in the Champions League final, European Championship, World Cup and now the 2026 World Cup final underlines the confidence UEFA and FIFA have continued to place in him since that incident.On Sunday, however, none of that history will matter when the whistle blows. Vinčić will be in charge of only the second World Cup final contested between reigning champions Argentina and newly crowned European champions Spain, with football’s biggest prize and a place in history awaiting the winner.
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