One week after officiating the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić has officially announced his retirement from refereeing at the age of 46. The news was confirmed by the Slovenian Football Association (NZS).
Vinčić bows out after one of the most distinguished refereeing careers of his generation, having taken charge of more than 500 professional matches since becoming a FIFA international referee in 2010. His appointment to the World Cup final made him the first Slovenian referee in history to officiate football’s biggest match.
The Maribor-born official also refereed the 2024 UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, the 2022 UEFA Europa League final between Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers, and featured at both UEFA Euro 2020 and Euro 2024, and the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cups.
His final assignment, however, proved one of the most controversial of his career. Vinčić was in charge of Spain’s 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina in the World Cup final, a match overshadowed by a series of contentious decisions, a red card for Enzo Fernández and chaotic scenes after the final whistle that have since prompted a FIFA investigation.
Despite the criticism surrounding the final, Vinčić’s performances throughout the tournament earned widespread recognition. He was named the best referee of the 2026 FIFA World Cup by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) and also received Italy’s prestigious Giulio Campanati Award for his refereeing achievements.
The Slovenian FA described his retirement as the conclusion of a “historic career”, with Vinčić leaving the game as one of the most accomplished referees Slovenian football has ever produced.
