2026 World Cup: He’s Chosen to Referee Spain vs. Argentina—The Reaction Is Thrilling

For a referee, there is no greater achievement. Being able to officiate a World Cup final is the ultimate goal for anyone who has chosen to pursue a career as a referee. For the Spain-Argentina match, the final match of the 2026 World Cup, the choice fell on Slavko Vincic.

The announcement was made directly by Pierluigi Collina, president of the FIFA Referees Committee. It was a moving moment, especially for Slavko Vincic, who, as soon as he heard his name called, burst into tears, unable to contain his overwhelming emotion.

The emotion was overwhelming for the 46-year-old Slovenian referee, who is crowning an impressive career with this “World Cup” appointment. Among the most significant matches he has refereed is the 2024 Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund.

Slavko Vincic will be assisted by his compatriots Tomaz Klancnik and Andraz Kovacic, with Adham Makhadmeh (Jordan) serving as the fourth official. German Bastian Dankert will be in charge of VAR, assisted by Nicolas Gallo (Colombia) and Khamis Al Marri (Qatar).