Slavko Vincic will referee Sunday's FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, making history as the first Slovenian official to oversee the tournament's championship match. The 46-year-old joins just 22 other referees in history to have been given this honour.
FIFA Chief Refereeing Officer Pierluigi Collina delivered the news to Vincic in an emotional video moment shared publicly. The Maribor-born referee struggled to contain his feelings when he heard the announcement.
"First of all, a shock. Then happiness.
I was shaking," Vincic said. "It's an incredible honour to get the World Cup final."
He added that every referee dreams of this opportunity from the moment they start their career. "I'm very proud of myself and my team," he told reporters.
Vincic emphasised the significance of representing Slovenia on world football's biggest stage. "It's very difficult to put everything into words, but I'm very proud to represent my country, Slovenia, at the biggest sporting event in the world," he said.
The referee brings experience from his second World Cup appearance. He handled two group-stage matches during the 2022 Qatar tournament.
At this year's competition, Vincic has already overseen Brazil's Group C draw with Morocco, Algeria's Group J victory over Jordan, and Mexico's Round of 32 win over Ecuador. Those performances convinced FIFA officials he deserved the final assignment.
His record in elite matches extends beyond World Cups. In 2024, UEFA selected him for the Champions League final at Wembley, where Real Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0.
That appointment made Vincic only the second Slovenian ever to referee a Champions League final, following Damir Skomina's 2019 selection. He also oversaw the 2022 Europa League final, where Eintracht Frankfurt defeated Rangers on penalties.
Despite his individual recognition, Vincic credited his entire officiating team for the achievement. Assistant referees Tomaž Klančnik and Andraž Kovačič have worked alongside him throughout his career.
"Refereeing is all about teamwork. Without them, without Tomaž and Andraž, this is not possible," Vincic said.
"I'm really happy that I've had them throughout my career."
He described the trio as close friends who've developed strong chemistry on the pitch. "We are really good friends, a good team, and thanks to them," he added.
Jordan's Adham Makhadmeh will serve as fourth official for the final match. His compatriot Mohammad Al-Kalaf has been appointed reserve assistant referee.
Collina explained that weeks of evaluation throughout the tournament shaped the selection decision. Performance on the pitch proved decisive, he said.
"It's a long process. There are many pieces of the puzzle that have to be combined," Collina told reporters.
"The performances are what matter the most."
He noted that previous matches refereed and the fact that an official's national team isn't competing also factor into decisions. But ultimately, pitch performances carry the most weight.
Collina reflected on the emotional significance of informing referees about their World Cup appointments. "That's one of the most emotional moments of every World Cup," he said.
