FIFA confirmed that the Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić will be in charge of directing the grand final of the 2026 World Cup between Spain and Argentina, which will be played this Sunday at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey.
It will be Vinčić’s fourth appearance in the tournament, after refereeing the Brazil vs. Morocco and Jordan vs. Algeria in the group stage, in addition to the round of 32 duel between Mexico and Ecuador, where Ecuadorian defender Piero Hincapié was sent off for covering his mouth when addressing an opponent, an action sanctioned under the regulations popularly known as the “Vinicius-Prestianni law.”
The referee, 46 years old and international since 2010, has extensive experience in top-level competitions. In the 2022 World Cup in Qatar he directed two matches, including Argentina’s surprise 2-1 defeat against Saudi Arabia in the group stage, in addition to the match between Wales and Iran.
For Spain, the designation is encouraging. La Roja remains undefeated in the five games it has played under Vinčić’s refereeing. These include the 2-1 victory over France in the semi-finals of Euro 2024 and the Champions League final that same year, in which Real Madrid defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-0.
In Sunday’s final, Vinčić will be accompanied by his compatriots Tomaž Klančnik and Andraž Kovačič as assistants, while Jordanian Adham Makhadmeh will serve as fourth official.
With a referee with extensive experience and experience in decisive matches, everything is ready for the long-awaited clash between Spain and Argentina, which will define the 2026 World Cup champion.
