World Cup final referee Slavko Vinčić makes major career decision one week after Spain-Argentina final

World Cup final referee Slavko Vinčić is leaving after the Spain-Argentina World Cup final Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić has officially ended his refereeing career, with the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina marking the final match of an outstanding career spanning almost two decades at the highest level of world football.The announcement comes a week after Vinčić celebrated Spain’s 1-0 overtime victory over Argentina in New Jersey, a final that remained under intense scrutiny due to the physical nature of the match and post-match altercations between Argentina’s players and coaching staff.While Vinčić faced criticism from some fans for his handling of the match, neither the referees nor the Slovenian Football Association suggested that his decision to withdraw was related to the controversy surrounding the final.

The Slovenian national football team confirmed the end of a breakthrough career

The Slovenian Football Association confirmed Vinčić’s retirement in an official statement issued a week after the World Cup final.“One week after the World Cup final in the USA, Slavko Vinčić officially concluded his historic career as a referee at the world’s top,” the federation said.The decision brings the curtain down on one of Europe’s most successful refereeing careers, culminating in football’s biggest task after years of progressing through UEFA and FIFA competitions.

From Slovenia’s top league to the biggest football scene

Born in Maribor, Slovenia in 1979, Vinčić began officiating in the Slovenian PrvaLiga in 2007 before receiving his FIFA international badge three years later in 2010.His consistent performances quickly established him as one of Europe’s leading referees, resulting in increasingly prominent UEFA appointments in both club and international football.

Referee Slavko Vincic of Slovenia during the soccer World Cup final match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

In 2019, Vinčić was promoted to the UEFA Elite category, the governing body’s highest classification of referees, opening the way for appointments at major international tournaments and European finals.Before returning for Euro 2024, he officiated at UEFA Euro 2020, where he was appointed referee for the semi-final between Spain and Italy.At club level, Vinčić managed some of Europe’s biggest games, including the 2022 UEFA Europa League final between Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers, before taking charge of the 2024 UEFA Champions League final in which Real Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund 2–0 at Wembley Stadium.Also read: Argentina President Javier Milei breaks silence after 23 million sign petition calling for World Cup ban

The journey through the World Cup ends with the final

The 2026 World Cup represented the pinnacle of Vinčić’s international career.The final against Spain and Argentina was his eighth World Cup assignment in the last two editions of the tournament.After making his first appearance at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Vinčić returned in 2026 to oversee four more matches before being selected by the FIFA Referees Department for the tournament’s ceremonial occasion.Earlier in the tournament, he officiated Brazil’s group stage draw with Morocco, Algeria’s win over Jordan and Mexico’s round of 32 win over Ecuador.

Referee Slavko Vincic of Slovenia talks with Ecuador’s Pier Hincapio (3) during the FIFA World Cup 32 match between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

The knockout game attracted considerable attention after Vinčić sent off Ecuador defender Piero Hincapié following a VAR review for covering his mouth while talking to Mexico striker Santiago Giménez.The decision marked the first red card Vinčić had handed out at a major international tournament, having previously refereed ten matches at FIFA World Cups and European Championships without sending off a player.

World Cup final draws criticism despite acclaim

Although his appointment to the World Cup final represented the highest honor available to an international referee, Vinčić’s performance sparked considerable debate following Spain’s victory.Argentina’s physical approach during the final was widely discussed after the match, with some supporters arguing that Vinčić should have taken stricter disciplinary action earlier in the match.During the match, the Slovenian referee sent off Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernández after showing a Chelsea player a second yellow card in stoppage time at the end of normal time.

Referee Slavko Vincic of Slovenia shows a red card to Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez (24) during the World Cup final match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

However, criticism continued after the final whistle, particularly after the confrontation between players and coaching staff that broke out after Spain won the title.Despite this backlash, Vinčić also received significant recognition for his performances throughout the tournament.He was named the best referee of the World Cup by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) and the Italian Referees Association (AIA), underscoring that his overall tournament performances took place in the refereeing circles.Also read: Argentina President Javier Milei breaks silence after 23 million sign petition calling for World Cup ban

The petition is created after the final

In the days following the final, an online petition was circulated among Argentina supporters calling for FIFA to replay the match.The petition alleged that Vinčić’s position influenced the outcome of the competition and described him as “corrupt”, while calling on FIFA to review the match and order a replay.The petition cited videos circulating on social media that its organizers claimed showed decisions in Spain’s favor and argued that protecting the integrity of referees was important for the future of football.However, no evidence has emerged to support allegations that the match was rigged or that Vinčić acted improperly during the final.The petition did not lead to any action by FIFA.The president of the Argentine Football Association, Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia, also publicly commented on the dispute, calling on supporters to accept the result of the World Cup final rather than continuing to call for a replay.

Career ends at the summit

Vinčić’s retirement follows a refereeing career that has seamlessly progressed from Slovenia’s domestic league to the biggest games in world football.Over 19 years, he officiated domestic league matches, UEFA competitions, European Championship matches, Europa League and Champions League finals, two FIFA World Cups and finally the 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina.While the debate over his final performance is likely to continue among fans, the Slovenian referee is leaving the profession after reaching the highest post available to any match referee, capping off his career on football’s biggest stage.