Slovenian Referee Slavko Vinčić Retires After Officiating 2026 World Cup Final

Slovenian Football Association confirmed that Slavko Vinčić, the referee who officiated the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, has officially retired from his refereeing career. Vinčić, 46, was selected by FIFA to oversee the prestigious final held at East Rutherford, marking a career highlight before his decision to hang up the whistle.

Vinčić's career included officiating major UEFA matches such as the Champions League final and the Europa League final. Earlier in 2026, he refereed a high-scoring UEFA qualifier between Israel and Italy, which ended 5-4 in favor of Italy. Despite his achievements, Vinčić was linked to a 2020 controversy when he was briefly detained on suspicion of involvement in a criminal network related to human trafficking and prostitution. He was released without charges after authorities concluded he was not involved and was present at the scene by coincidence.

The Slovenian Football Association praised Vinčić as the first Slovenian to referee a World Cup final, cementing his status among the sport's elite officials. They highlighted his recognition as the best referee of the tournament by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics and his receipt of the prestigious Giulio Campanati award in Italy. A video of Vinčić's emotional reaction to being named World Cup final referee went viral, showing his mix of shock and pride.

Vinčić's retirement closes a notable chapter in Slovenian and international football refereeing, with his career marked by both high-profile appointments and overcoming past controversies. The football community now looks ahead to new referees stepping into the spotlight for future tournaments.