TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Slavko Vincic has been appointed to referee the 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey this Sunday, July 19, or early Monday, July 20, Jakarta time.
"So, first of all, a shock. Then happiness. I was shaking, so it’s an incredible honour to get the (FIFA) World Cup final," Vincic said as quoted from the official FIFA website.
The Slovenian official feels this assignment is a deeply meaningful milestone for any referee, particularly given his long-standing tenure as an international arbiter since 2010.
Vincic makes history as the first Slovenian official to oversee a World Cup final and stands as the 23rd referee ever chosen for the tournament's grand finale.
Throughout his career, Vincic has taken charge of numerous high-stakes European and international fixtures, including the 2022 Europa League final and the 2024 Champions League final.
The 46-year-old veteran previously refereed the Euro 2024 semifinal clash between France and Spain, alongside several group-stage fixtures during the 2022 World Cup.
Over the course of the 2026 World Cup campaign, Vincic oversaw the Brazil-Morocco and Jordan-Algeria group-stage matches, as well as the tense Mexico-Ecuador showdown in the round of 32.
Vincic will command the 2026 World Cup final with the support of assistant referees Tomaz Klancnik and Andraz Kovacic, who also hail from Slovenia.
"So, refereeing is all about teamwork. So, without them, without Toma and Andra, this is not possible," said Vincic. "We are really good friends, a good team, and thanks to them," he concluded.
Jordanian referee Adham Makhadmeh has been designated to serve as the fourth official, while Mohammad Al Kalaf will step in as the reserve assistant referee.
The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) booth will be spearheaded by Germany's Bastian Dankert, supported by assistant VAR official Nicolas Gallo, with Qatar's Khamis Al Marri acting as the VAR support specialist.
Read: What to Know About 2026 World Cup Final Spain vs Argentina
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