Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić has officially announced his retirement from football officiating, bringing the curtain down on a distinguished career that culminated in refereeing the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Vinčić has decided to call time on his career after officiating the biggest match in world football.
“The referee who officiated the 2026 World Cup final has decided to stop refereeing after taking charge of the biggest match of his life. The Slovenian Football Association has confirmed that Vinčić has formally ended his career at 46 years old.”
The 46-year-old became the first Slovenian referee to officiate a FIFA World Cup final, adding another milestone to a career that also saw him take charge of the 2024 UEFA Champions League final, the 2022 UEFA Europa League final, and numerous matches at the FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Championship, UEFA Nations League, FIFA Club World Cup, World Cup qualifiers, and European Championship qualifiers.
A FIFA-listed referee since 2010, Vinčić officiated more than 500 professional matches during his career. In 451 documented matches, he issued 1,845 yellow cards and 41 red cards, averaging just over four yellow cards per game while earning a reputation for maintaining control with a calm but firm approach.
His retirement comes just days after the World Cup showpiece in New Jersey, where Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time. Despite the debate that followed the final, Vinčić leaves the game as one of Europe’s most respected referees, closing the chapter on a career that spanned nearly two decades and included some of football’s biggest occasions.
