Final 2026 World Cup ruling announces his official retirement

International referee Slavko Vincic has officially announced his retirement from refereeing, one week after officiating the 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina.

The Slovenian Football Association said in a statement on its official website that Vincic, 49, concluded his refereeing career after a distinguished journey that saw him manage numerous high-profile matches at both European and international levels.

His final season was crowned with the title of Best World Cup Referee awarded by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS), and he also received the prestigious Giulio Campanati Award in Italy.

Vincic has been a UEFA Elite referee since 2019 and has officiated several prominent fixtures, including matches at Euro 2020 and the Euro 2024 semi-final between Spain and Italy.

The Slovenian referee also managed the 2024 UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, as well as the 2022 UEFA Europa League final between Germany’s Eintracht Frankfurt and Scotland’s Rangers.