Slovenian Slavko Vincic, 46, could not contain his excitement when he was appointed by the International Federation of Association Football (Fifa) to head the refereeing for the grand final of the 2026 World Cup. The decisive match of the tournament will take place between the teams of Spain and Argentina.
The highest football entity itself released a video on its digital platforms, recording the moment the referee was selected. In a moment of visible joy, Vincic was congratulated by other candidates and described the nomination as an “incredible honor”.
Introducing your referee for the @FIFAWorldCup 2026 Final….🥁
— FIFA (@FIFAcom) July 17, 2026
Congratulations, Slavko Vinčić! 👏 pic.twitter.com/OMLJ3oA31p
The refereeing team will have the help of fellow Slovenians Tomaz Klancnik and Andraz Kovacic, who will act as assistants. The fourth referee will be Adham Makhadmeh, from the United Arab Emirates, while Mohammad Alkalaf, also from the Asian country, will serve as a reserve assistant.
Throughout his career, Slavko Vincic has accumulated significant experience in major tournaments. His participation in previous editions of the World Cup or in important knockout games includes refereeing the 1-1 draw between Brazil and Morocco, Algeria’s 2-1 victory over Jordan in the group stage, and Mexico’s 2-0 triumph against Ecuador in the round of 16 stage, demonstrating his ability to handle high-level matches.
The long-awaited final of the 2026 World Cup, which will pit Spain and Argentina face-to-face, will take place next Sunday, the 19th. The match is scheduled for 4pm (Brasília time) at the MetLife Stadium, located in New Jersey.
