2026 World Cup: Appointed to referee the Spain-Argentina final, why Slavko Vinčić is already under fire

FIFA has officially announced the referee who will officiate the highly anticipated 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, scheduled for Sunday at MetLife Stadium. Slovenian Slavko Vinčić will bear the weighty responsibility of leading this prestigious match, an appointment that represents the pinnacle of his career, but one that has not been universally welcomed.

Visibly moved by the announcement, the Slovenian referee couldn't hold back his tears in front of his colleagues. His compatriots Tomaž Klančnik and Andraž Kovačič will serve as assistant referees, while Jordanians Adham Malkhadmeh and Mohammad Al-Kalaf will respectively fill the roles of fourth official and video assistant referee.

"It's a huge honor. I felt incredibly emotional when I heard the news. Refereeing a World Cup final is every referee's dream. I'm proud to represent my country and we will give it our all," Vinčić said after his appointment.

An experienced referee, but controversial decisions.

On the sporting front, the Slovenian has a solid international reputation. During this World Cup, he officiated three matches: Brazil-Morocco (1-1), Jordan-Algeria (1-2) and Mexico-Ecuador (2-0) in the round of 16.

His refereeing, however, did not escape debate. During the match between Brazil and Morocco, the lack of sanction against Achraf Hakimi after a strong challenge on Vinicius Junior, as well as the non-intervention of VAR, had raised numerous questions.

Against Mexico and Ecuador, Vinčić also had to manage a particularly tense match, marked by seven yellow cards and one red card. Ecuadorian defender Piero Hincapié was notably sent off after a heated exchange with Santiago Giménez, a decision deemed in accordance with FIFA's new disciplinary guidelines.

His experience remains a significant asset. In recent years, he has refereed several high-profile European finals, including the 2022 Europa League final between Eintracht Frankfurt and Glasgow Rangers, as well as the 2024 Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund.

Mistakes that fuel the debate

Despite his prestigious career, several recent performances have tarnished his image. Some observers believe he made significant errors during high-intensity Champions League matches.

One of the most discussed episodes remains the second leg of the Bayern Munich-Real Madrid quarter-final. Vinčić had given Eduardo Camavinga a second yellow card before realizing that he had already cautioned the French midfielder a few minutes earlier, a mix-up that fueled considerable criticism.

FC Barcelona also has a bad memory of the Slovenian referee after a match against Inter Milan in the group stage of the 2022 Champions League. The Catalans strongly contested several decisions, notably a handball by Denzel Dumfries not called in the box and the disallowance of a goal by Pedri after an unintentional intervention by Ansu Fati.

An old court case resurfaces

Beyond the sporting controversies, Vinčić's appointment also revives an off-field affair dating back to 2020.

That year, the referee was arrested during a large-scale police operation in Bosnia-Herzegovina against a prostitution and drug trafficking network.

During this operation, several dozen people were arrested and significant quantities of drugs, weapons and cash were seized.  

Vinčić had always maintained that he had been there by chance, explaining that he was simply attending a business lunch. "I accepted a lunch invitation, which turned out to be the biggest mistake of my life. I had no connection whatsoever with the people targeted by this operation," he said.

Initially suspected of using prostitution services, he was ultimately never charged. After being questioned as a witness, he was released, as investigators found no link between him and the dismantled criminal network.

His federation had also publicly defended him, believing that he had found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Despite these controversies, FIFA has chosen to entrust him with the role of referee for one of the most important matches in world football. On Sunday, all eyes will be on the Slovenian, whose every decision will be scrutinized with the utmost attention during this final between Spain and Argentina.