en.malanginspirasi.com – In a historic appointment, 46-year-old Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić has been selected to officiate the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The highly anticipated clash pits defending champions Argentina, led by Lionel Messi in pursuit of back-to-back titles, against a star-studded Spain side featuring young sensation Lamine Yamal.
Vinčić will be assisted by his fellow Slovenians Tomaž Klančnik and Andraž Kovačič, with Jordan’s Adham Makhadmeh serving as the fourth official.
This marks the first time a Slovenian referee has been entrusted with a World Cup final, a crowning achievement for the veteran official.
FIFA has praised his consistent performances throughout the tournament.
Born on November 25, 1979, in Maribor, Slovenia, Vinčić has been a FIFA-listed international referee since 2010.
He began his career in the Slovenian PrvaLiga and steadily rose through the ranks to become one of UEFA’s most trusted officials.
His résumé includes refereeing the 2024 UEFA Champions League Final between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid at Wembley Stadium and the 2022 UEFA Europa League Final between Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers.
He has also appeared at major tournaments, including UEFA Euro 2020 and 2024—where he handled Spain’s semi-final against France—as well as the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, notably officiating Argentina’s shock group-stage loss to Saudi Arabia, and multiple matches at the ongoing 2026 tournament.
Outside of football, Vinčić runs an industrial services company and is married with two children.
His career faced a notable challenge in 2020 when he was briefly detained during a police raid in Bosnia and Herzegovina linked to an investigation involving drugs and prostitution.
Vinčić was released without charges, explaining he was there for a business meeting and described the incident as a major personal error and unfortunate circumstance.
Then, he has since continued his career without further issues.
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The announcement sparked widespread discussion on X, with many users highlighting the emotional moment when Vinčić learned of his appointment.
Videos circulated showing him visibly moved to tears, with comments praising it as a wholesome and dream-come-true moment for the referee.
Positive reactions celebrated his big-match experience and the honor for a small nation like Slovenia.
However, some criticism also emerged, particularly from Polish accounts and observers noting his past performances.
Polish media and fans expressed disappointment over Szymon Marciniak’s limited role, with some calling the choice surprising given Vinčić’s struggles in certain high-stakes European games.
Others referenced past controversies, including his 2020 incident or specific refereeing decisions.
Overall, reactions mixed pride in Vinčić’s milestone with the usual scrutiny that accompanies any World Cup final referee appointment.
