Sports World Cup 2026

Football: Slovenian whistle for 2026 World Cup final

A Slovenian refereeing team led by referee Slavko Vinčić, with Jordanian Adham Makhadmeh appointed as fourth official, to officiate the final match between Spain and Argentina next Sunday..

Ahmed Hassan

17 July 2026 • Updated: 17 July 2026

İSTANBUL

Istanbul / Ahmed Hassan / Anadolu

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) assigned, on Friday, the management of the 2026 World Cup final, which brings together Spain and Argentina next Sunday, to a Slovenian refereeing team led by referee Slavko Vinčić.

Vinčić, 46, is assisted by his compatriots Tomaž Klancnik and Andraž Kovačič, while Jordanian Adham Makhadmeh will be the fourth official, and his compatriot Mohammad Al-Kalaf will serve as reserve assistant referee.

Vinčić is considered one of the most experienced referees in Europe, having become a FIFA-accredited international referee in 2010, officiating matches at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar before taking charge of the 2024 UEFA Champions League final between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid.

This match is the first final between two continental champions, as the Spanish national team is the 2024 European champion, while the Argentine national team is the 2024 Copa América champion. They were supposed to meet in the 'Finalissima' in Doha in March last, but it was cancelled due to the war in the Gulf.

No Slovenian referee had ever officiated a World Cup final in 22 previous editions, making Vinčić the first of his kind and confirming the confidence of FIFA's main referees committee in his competence.

The World Cup final is the fourth match Vinčić will officiate in the tournament, after the Brazil vs. Morocco and Jordan vs. Algeria group stage matches, and then Mexico vs. Ecuador in the round of 32.

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) released a video showing Vinčić being told he would officiate the match, whereupon he immediately put his head in his hands and began to cry in a touching moment.

As for the third-place match between France and England, it will be officiated by Venezuelan Jesús Valenzuela, assisted by his compatriots Jorge Urrego and Tulio Moreno, with Moroccan Jalal Jedd as fourth official and his compatriot Zakaria Brinsi as reserve assistant.