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The referee of the World Cup final, Slavko Vincic, retires
Jul 27 2026 12:50 · By EFE · 96 Reads
The match between Argentina and Spain was his last game as a referee
The Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic, who officiated the 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina last July 19, has ended his professional career, the Slovenian Football Federation (NZS) reported this Monday.
"One week after the World Cup final in the USA, Slavko Vincic has officially brought his historic refereeing career at the top of this sport to an end", the NZS said on its website.
According to the Federation of the small Adriatic country, by officiating the World Cup final the 46-year-old referee "consolidated his status as one of the best referees in history".
Recognition
In addition, remember that to crown his farewell season, the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) proclaimed him the best referee of the World Cup for maintaining "the clear and firm disciplinary control that characterizes elite refereeing".
The Slovenian referee was also awarded the prestigious "Giulio Campanati" prize in Italy for his refereeing work at the 2026 World Cup.
Vincic had been officiating international matches since 2010, including numerous decisive games, such as the 2022 Europa League final between Eintracht Frankfurt and Glasgow Rangers, and in 2024 the Champions League final, won by Real Madrid against Borussia Dortmund. That same year, the IFFHS awarded him the title of the world’s second-best referee.