A milestone for Slovenian football
Slavko Vincic, a 46‑year‑old referee from Slovenia, is set to officiate the FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium, marking the first time a Slovenian has been entrusted with the sport’s premier match.
Vincic’s career has been defined by a no‑nonsense style and a string of high‑profile assignments, including the 2024 Champions League final, the 2021‑22 Europa League final, and matches at the 2022 World Cup. He has officiated Spain three times, each time in European Championship finals, and his recent appointments have kept him in the spotlight.
He will be assisted by fellow Slovenians Tomaz Klancnik and Andraz Kovacic, while Germany’s Bastian Dankert serves as the VAR, supported by Colombia’s Nicolas Gallo. The presence of Pierluigi Collina, FIFA’s influential head of referees, underscores the confidence placed in Vincic.
The selection is unusual because it deviates from FIFA’s usual policy of rotating officials across continents, a rule that has kept Vincic’s rise under close scrutiny. Collina’s public praise highlights the referee’s esteem within the organization.
Vincic’s journey to the final includes a tearful reaction upon learning of his appointment, a moment that reflects the culmination of years of dedication. His recent performances, such as dismissing Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga and Arda Guler for dissent, and sending off Ecuador’s Piero Hincapie for a confrontational gesture, have been noted by analysts.
The tournament has also featured other notable officials, including Iran’s Alireza Faghani, whose international career concludes without the accolades some argue he deserved, and Poland’s Szymon Marciniak, who continues to shape major matches.