New York, July 17: FIFA has announced the referee for the 2026 World Cup final match. Experienced Slovenian official Slavko Vinčić will take charge of the title clash between Argentina and Spain at the New Jersey Stadium.
FIFA’s head referee, Pierluigi Collina, expressed his satisfaction with this appointment. He emphasized the importance of having a qualified and experienced referee for a significant event like the World Cup final. Vinčić’s selection for this crucial match highlights his impressive career.
According to FIFA, Vinčić will be assisted by Tomaz Klancnik as Assistant Referee 1 and Andraz Kovacic as Assistant Referee 2. Additionally, Adham Makhdameh will serve as the fourth official, while Mohammad Alkalaf will be the reserve assistant referee. At 46 years old, this will be Vinčić’s first major World Cup final. He began his World Cup career during the 2022 Qatar tournament, where he officiated two matches. In the 2026 World Cup, he has already refereed three matches, making the final his sixth World Cup appearance.
Vinčić’s career includes several high-profile matches, including the UEFA Champions League final in 2024, where Real Madrid faced Borussia Dortmund. He has also officiated at major tournaments such as the UEFA European Championship, World Cup qualifiers, Europa League, Nations League, and Club World Cup.
The match will take place at New Jersey Stadium in New York, with expectations of over 80,000 spectators. Under the captaincy of Lionel Messi, Argentina has secured a spot in the final for the second consecutive time. Meanwhile, Spain has reached the title match for the first time since 2010.
Spain won the World Cup title in 2010, and they will be aiming for their second championship. Argentina, on the other hand, seeks to claim the FIFA World Cup trophy for the fourth time, having previously won in 1978, 1986, and 2022. The two teams have met only once in the World Cup before, with Argentina defeating Spain 2-1 in the 1966 tournament.
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