Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic will take charge of one of the biggest football matches when Spain face Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. FIFA confirmed the appointment through Referees Committee Chairman Pierluigi Collina, whose announcement was shared widely on social media.

The moment was an emotional one for the experienced official. After Collina revealed the decision, the 46-year-old from Maribor was embraced by fellow referees as he prepared for the biggest assignment of his career.

Slavko Vincic
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Slavko Vincic- the official match referee for the FIFA World Cup | X [FIFA]

FIFA chooses Slavko Vincic for World Cup final

Vincic heads into the World Cup final with years of experience at the highest level of European football. He has officiated 512 professional matches and has previously been trusted with some of the sport’s biggest occasions.

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His resume includes the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League final, where Real Madrid defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-0 at Wembley Stadium. He also oversaw the 2022 UEFA Europa League final, which ended with Eintracht Frankfurt defeating Rangers 5-4 in a penalty shootout.

Now, he adds another major milestone by being selected to referee the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina.

The 2020 Bosnia police raid explained

Although Vincic has established himself as one of Europe’s leading referees, his name made headlines in 2020 after he was caught up in a police operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Authorities carried out a raid at a cabin near the Bosnian city of Bijeljina as part of an investigation involving drugs and prostitution.

According to police, nine women and 26 men were detained during the operation. Officers also seized four packets of cocaine, 10 pistols, three protective vests and more than 10,000 euros in cash. Vincic was among those taken in for questioning during the raid.

Why was Slavko Vincic released?

The Slovenian referee was later released after authorities concluded that he had no direct involvement in the criminal investigation. Police questioned him as a witness before allowing him to leave.

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Following the incident, Vincic explained that he had travelled to Bosnia and Herzegovina for a business meeting and believed he was attending a business lunch. “I found myself on this ranch by chance. I have my own company, I was in Bosnia and Herzegovina for a business meeting,” Vincic told Slovenian outlet Vecer.

He also described how events unfolded after he arrived at the venue. “I accepted an invitation to lunch, which turned out to be my biggest mistake. I regret it. I was sitting at a table with my company; all of a sudden, the police came and what happened, happened.”

Vincic maintained that neither he nor his business associates had any connection to the people targeted in the operation. “I have nothing to do with the group that was arrested and detained, nor do my business partners. Yes, they really took us to the police, asked [us] as witnesses; when it turned out that we didn’t even know them, we were able to go,” he had said.

Biggest match of his career awaits

With FIFA placing its trust in him for the Spain vs Argentina World Cup final, Vincic is set to oversee football’s biggest stage. His appointment follows years of officiating elite European fixtures, while the 2020 incident remains a chapter that ended without any charges being brought against the Slovenian referee.

FAQs

Who is the referee for the Spain vs Argentina World Cup final?

Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic has been appointed to officiate the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina.

Why was Slavko Vincic arrested in 2020?

Vincic was detained during a police raid in Bosnia and Herzegovina but was later released after authorities determined he was not involved and questioned him only as a witness.