Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić praised and scrutinized after World Cup 2026 final

Spain defeated Argentina 1‑0 after extra time in the 2026 World Cup final staged at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The match was overseen by 46‑year‑old Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić, whose performance sparked contrasting reactions. Polish expert Rafał Rostkowski condemned Vinčić’s leniency on fouls, while Slovenian outlets lauded his control and described his work as “excellent”. Both team coaches, Spain’s Luis de la Fuente and Argentina’s Lionel Scaloni, said they had no major criticisms of the officiating. FIFA disclosed that Vinčić earned roughly US$60,000 for the final and about US$140,000 in total from the tournament, including travel and per‑diem allowances. The referee, of Serbian descent and born in Bosnia‑Herzegovina, previously faced media attention after a 2020 incident in Bijeljina but was cleared of charges.