The grand finale of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey this Sunday, featuring a thrilling clash between Argentina and Spain. While superstars Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal are anticipated to steal the spotlight, it will be up to the experienced teams to navigate the pressure of this monumental match.
Event Context
FIFA has named Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić as the officiator for the final, marking him as the first Slovene referee to oversee a men’s FIFA World Cup final. The announcement of the complete officiating team for the final was made by FIFA.
With a wealth of experience, Vinčić has been a key figure in European refereeing. He earned his FIFA badge in 2010 and has presided over over 500 professional matches. In recent assignments, he officiated the UEFA Champions League final in 2024 between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, as well as the 2022 UEFA Europa League final. FIFA highlighted that this World Cup final represents the pinnacle of his career thus far.
In his officiating team, Klančnik has been a FIFA assistant referee since 2016, while Kovačič has been on the FIFA list since 2018. Both have worked closely with Vinčić for several years in UEFA competitions and have joined him throughout this World Cup.
Vinčić has previously officiated matches involving both finalists. He was in charge during Argentina’s unexpected 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in the 2022 FIFA World Cup and also managed Spain’s 2-1 victory over France in the UEFA Euro 2024 semi-final. Pierluigi Collina, chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, stated that Vinčić earned this final assignment based on his exceptional performances during the tournament.
Player Focus
Adham Makhadmeh from Jordan will take on the role of fourth official, while his fellow countryman Mohammad Al-Kalaf will act as the reserve assistant referee. In the VAR booth, Bastian Dankert from Germany will oversee the video review process, supported by Nicolás Gallo from Colombia and Khamis Al-Marri from Qatar.
Match Outlook
Joining him on the field will be Slovenian counterparts Tomaž Klančnik and Andraž Kovačič, alongside Jordanian officials Adham Makhadmeh and Mohammad Al-Kalaf. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) team will be headed by Bastian Dankert from Germany.
