Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic to officiate 2026 World Cup final

By Arjun Nair / 19.07.2026

By Arjun Nair — 19 July 2026 — 3 min read

Referee Slavko Vincic’s Journey to the World Cup Final

Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic has been appointed to officiate the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain. This marks a significant career milestone for Vincic, as he becomes the first referee from Slovenia to oversee the tournament’s championship match. His appointment was met with an emotional reaction, as captured in a video shared by FIFA.

Vincic has been a FIFA referee since 2010, bringing considerable experience to the role. His extensive career includes officiating major matches such as games at European Championships, the 2022 World Cup, the UEFA Europa League final in 2022, and the Champions League final in 2024. Notably, he presided over the 2024 Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund.

During the current World Cup, Vincic has already officiated three matches without any reported controversy regarding his decisions. His consistent performance at the highest levels of football has earned him the trust of FIFA for this prestigious assignment.

Past Controversy and Vindication

Before his ascent to officiating the World Cup final, Vincic was involved in a highly publicised incident in May 2020. This event occurred in Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, during the coronavirus pandemic. Police conducted an operation targeting an alleged criminal network suspected of involvement in drug trafficking, illegal weapons possession, and prostitution. During the raid, authorities reportedly discovered cocaine, firearms, and a significant amount of cash.

Vincic was among several individuals detained during this operation. He was questioned by police but was subsequently released after authorities found no evidence directly linking him to the criminal activities under investigation. Reports indicated he was present at the location but was not considered a member of the alleged criminal group.

The incident also involved Tijana Ajfon, a Serbian television personality whose real name is Tijana Maksimović. She gained recognition in the Balkan region through television appearances and social media. Ajfon was among those detained and was reportedly considered a key figure in the investigation, connected to the organisation of a gathering at a private property where the arrests took place.

Vincic later clarified that he had attended a business meeting and was unaware of the illicit activities occurring at the gathering. The Slovenian Football Association publicly supported his account, stating that his presence was an unfortunate coincidence of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Investigators ultimately found no evidence to connect him to the criminal organisation, and he was released without charge.

Continued Career Success

Despite the unwanted attention from the 2020 incident, it did not impede Vincic’s refereeing career. He continued to officiate major matches across various competitions, demonstrating his resilience and commitment to his profession. His performances in high-profile games, including a Champions League quarter-final between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid where he issued a second yellow card to Eduardo Camavinga for time-wasting, solidified his reputation.

Upon receiving the appointment for the World Cup final, Vincic expressed his profound honour, describing it as an incredible moment. He stated that representing Slovenia on such a grand stage is a dream for any referee, expressing pride in himself and his team.

Six years after the controversy, Vincic is now poised to oversee one of the most important matches in global football, marking a significant achievement in his career.

Source: marca.com