’I was shaking’: Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic breaks down in tears after being appointed to officiate 2026 World Cup final

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Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić broke down in tears after being appointed by FIFA to officiate the 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday.

The 46-year-old from Maribor was informed of his selection by Pierluigi Collina, FIFA’s Chief Refereeing Officer and Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee. As soon as the announcement was made in front of the referee contingent, Vinčić struggled to hold back his tears and was quickly congratulated by those around him. FIFA shared video of the emotional moment on its official social media channels.

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“A Dream for a Young Referee”

Vinčić described the moment he received the news as overwhelming.

“So, first of all, a shock. Then happiness. I was shaking, so it’s an incredible honour to get the World Cup final,” he said.

“It’s something that… it’s only a dream for a referee, for a young referee when they start. So, I’m very proud, very proud of myself, my team.”

The appointment makes Vinčić just the 23rd referee in history to officiate a FIFA World Cup final—and the first Slovenian to receive the honour.

“First of all, it’s very difficult to put everything into words, but I’m very proud to represent my country, Slovenia, in the biggest sporting event in the world,” he said.

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A Stellar Resume

Vinčić is no stranger to high-pressure fixtures. A FIFA-listed official since 2010, he has built a career packed with elite appointments:

· 2022 UEFA Europa League final between Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers
· 2024 UEFA Champions League final between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid at Wembley
· UEFA EURO 2020 and EURO 2024, including the semi-final between France and Spain
· 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States

This is Vinčić’s second World Cup. He officiated two matches in Qatar 2022. So far in the 2026 tournament, he has taken charge of Brazil v. Morocco and Jordan v. Algeria in the group stage, as well as Mexico v. Ecuador in the round of 32. Sunday’s final will mark his sixth career World Cup match and his fourth assignment of the current campaign.

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“Refereeing Is All About Teamwork”

Vinčić was quick to share the credit with his officiating team, particularly his assistant referees Tomaž Klančnik and Andraž Kovačič.

“Without them, without Tomaž and Andraž, this is not possible,” he said. “We are really good friends, a good team, and thanks to them.”

Klančnik and Kovačič have formed a long-standing officiating partnership on the international circuit for more than 10 years.

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Full Officiating Crew

Joining Vinčić on the pitch will be:

· Assistant Referee 1: Tomaž Klančnik (Slovenia)
· Assistant Referee 2: Andraž Kovačič (Slovenia)
· Fourth Official: Adham Makhadmeh (Jordan)
· Reserve Assistant Referee: Mohammad Alkalaf (Jordan)

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A Controversial History with Argentina

Vinčić’s appointment has drawn particular attention given his history with Argentina. He was the referee for Argentina’s 2022 World Cup opener against Saudi Arabia—a match Argentina famously lost 2-1. That defeat ended Argentina’s 36-match unbeaten run in international football.

While Vinčić did award Argentina a penalty in that match—converted by Lionel Messi—the result remains one of the most shocking upsets in World Cup history. It remains the last World Cup game Argentina has lost.

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“We Will Do Our Best”

For Vinčić, Sunday’s final represents the pinnacle of a distinguished career.

“My team is very proud and we will do our best,” he said.

Kick-off between defending champions Argentina and Spain is scheduled for Sunday, July 19 at 3:00 PM EDT at the New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium).

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