Slavko Vincic Named World Cup 2026 Final Referee
FIFA has confirmed it. Slavko Vincic will referee Sunday's World Cup final between Argentina and Spain at MetLife Stadium and the moment he found out is exactly as big as it sounds.
Caught on camera in a room full of his peers, Vincic's reaction said it all: shock, then pure joy. "First of all, a shock. Then happiness. I was shaking," he admitted. "It's only a dream for a referee when they start their career."
At 46, the Slovenian becomes the 23rd referee in history to take charge of a World Cup final and the first ever from his country. It's the crowning moment of a career already built on the biggest stages in football, having overseen the 2022 UEFA Europa League final and the 2024 UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund.
This is his fourth match at the 2026 tournament after handling group and knockout fixtures, and now he carries the whistle for the ultimate prize.
