The Slovenian official oversaw the ill-tempered clash at the MetLife Stadium, which saw Spain clinch their second world title with a 1-0 win over Argentina after extra time.
The Slovenian FA have confirmed that World Cup final referee Slavko Vincic has officially hung up his whistle.
One week after officiating soccer’s biggest event, the Football Association of Slovenia (NZS) announced the veteran official’s retirement in an official statement. In a release on its official website, the NZS confirmed the end of the 46-year-old referee’s storied career on the pitch: “A week after the World Cup final in the USA, Slavko Vincic has officially concluded his historic refereeing career at the very top of the world.“.
A statement from the Slovenian FA read: “One week after the World Cup final in the USA, Slavko Vinčić officially concluded his historic refereeing career at the very top of the world. “The Maribor native became the first Slovenian head referee to officiate the grand final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, confirming his status as one of the greatest officials in history. “As the crowning achievement of his farewell season, the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) named him the best referee of the World Cup, and he received the prestigious Giulio Campanati award in Italy.”
The praise coincided with major honors, as the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) named him the best referee of the 2026 World Cup, while Italy’s Referee Association (AIA) awarded him the prestigious Giulio Campanati Award. This included being selected by FIFA to officiate the World Cup final, which saw him become the first-ever Slovenian to take charge of football's biggest game.
An international referee since 2010, Vincic built a distinguished résumé overseeing high-stakes fixtures, including 50 UEFA Champions League matches. In European club competition, he was selected to handle the 2022 UEFA Europa League final between Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers, followed by the 2024 Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium.
In a 2-0 win for Mexico, Vincic made headlines late in stoppage time by issuing a straight red card to Piero Hincapié under FIFA’s new rule prohibiting players from covering their mouths during confrontational exchanges. During La Roja’s 1-0 victory, Vincic showed a second yellow card to Enzo Fernandez following a foul on Pau Cubarsi, an ejection that sealed Albiceleste’s fate against a dominant Spanish squad.