FIFA has appointed Slovenia’s Slavko Vinčić to referee the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain. The 46-year-old will take charge of the tournament’s 104th and last match at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday, 19 July, with kick-off scheduled for 15:00 local time (19:00 UTC).
It is a landmark assignment for Slovenian football: Vinčić is the first official from the country selected to referee a men’s World Cup final. FIFA confirmed the appointment on 17 July, two days before Argentina, the reigning world and South American champions, meet European champions Spain.
Vinčić already knows World Cup pressure. He worked two matches at Qatar 2022, including Argentina’s opening defeat to Saudi Arabia, and has handled three games during this edition: Brazil–Morocco, Jordan–Algeria and Mexico–Ecuador. That 2026 experience gives him a direct view of the tournament’s new 48-team, 104-match scale before its decisive night.
The final brings an unbeaten Argentina into a meeting with Spain, whose only dropped points came in a draw against Cabo Verde in their opening match. Argentina reached New York New Jersey after a 2-1 semi-final win over England on 15 July; Spain beat France 2-0 a day earlier. The appointment is deliberately neutral: Vinčić represents neither finalist’s confederation.
His résumé includes the 2024 UEFA Champions League final, and his role on Sunday will extend beyond the headline whistle. Modern World Cup officiating is a team operation, with assistants, a fourth official and video officials supporting decisions across a match that could run beyond 90 minutes if the score is level.
For supporters, the name of the referee matters because the final’s margin is so thin: set pieces, penalty-area challenges, added time and video reviews can all become defining moments. Vinčić called the opportunity an “incredible honour” in FIFA’s announcement; on 19 July, the spotlight will shift quickly from the appointment to the football.
Sources: FIFA’s 17 July referee announcement; FIFA World Cup final preview and schedule; FIFA’s tournament statistics page.