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Slavko Vinčić to Referee Argentina‑Spain World Cup Final in New Jersey
FIFA confirmed that Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić will officiate the 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on 19 July 2026. Vinčić, 46, has a long record of high‑profile appointments, including Euro 2020, the 2022 Qatar World Cup, the 2024 Champions League final and Euro 2024 matches.
The appointment follows a 2020 incident in Bijeljina, Bosnia‑Herzegovina, where police raided a gathering linked to drug trafficking and prostitution. Vinčić and his business associates were detained as witnesses; no charges were filed and he was released. He later described the episode as “the biggest mistake of my life.”
The final, featuring defending champions Argentina and European champions Spain, is expected to attract a global audience of hundreds of millions, with additional attention on the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump and record ticket prices.