Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić to officiate World Cup final, moved to tears by honor

Slovenian football referee Slavko Vinčić will take charge of the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, FIFA announced. This appointment signifies the pinnacle of the 46-year-old's career, making it his first World Cup final.

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Officiating a World Cup final is an incredible honor. It's something every young referee dreams of from the start of their journey. I am extremely proud of myself and my team.

Vinčić received the news from FIFA's head of referees, Pierluigi Collina. Collina lauded the selection, stating that having Vinčić officiate a match with "gold stripes on the jersey" was a significant honor. The announcement came during a referees' meeting before the tournament's conclusion.

Overwhelmed by the news, Vinčić described feeling initial shock followed by immense happiness, admitting he was trembling. "Officiating a World Cup final is an incredible honor," he told FIFA. "It's something every young referee dreams of from the start of their journey. I am extremely proud of myself and my team."

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Leading a match with gold stripes on the jersey is something truly beautiful. I am convinced that you all agree with me. This is something truly great, as is the fact that the main referee will be Slavko.

Vinčić will be assisted by fellow Slovenians Tomaž Klančnik and Andraž Kovačič, with Jordanian Adham Makhadmeh serving as the fourth official. This selection is considered a historic achievement for Slovenian football and its refereeing organization. Vinčić emphasized the team effort involved in refereeing, acknowledging his assistants' crucial role throughout his career.

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It is difficult to describe everything in words, but I am extremely proud to be able to represent my homeland, Slovenia, at the biggest sporting event in the world. My team is also proud, and we will do our best.

The final will be Vinčić's fourth match at the tournament, having previously officiated games in the group stage and the round of 16. His most significant previous match was the 2024 Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund.

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Refereeing is a team effort, and without Andraž and Tomaž, this would not have been possible. I am very happy to have them by my side throughout my career.