FIFA has announced the officiating crew for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final, where Spain and Argentina will compete for football’s biggest prize. Here’s what you need to know about the Referee for 2026 World Cup Final match, including their salary, role, earnings, history, and profile.
The referee for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain vs Argentina is Slavko Vinčić from Slovenia, one of Europe’s most experienced officials.
Slavko Vincic will be assisted by fellow Slovenians Tomaž Klančnik and Andraž Kovačič, with Adham Makhadmeh from Jordan serving as the fourth official.
The Spain vs Argentina match is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, 2026, at the New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium).
Referee for 2026 World Cup Final with Salary and Earnings
While FIFA does not publish an official pay scale, reports indicate that referees at the 2026 World Cup receive a substantial payout.
- Base Participation Fee: Referees are expected to earn around $100,000 simply for being selected for the tournament.
- Match Fees: On top of the base fee, referees earn an estimated $3,000 to $5,000 for group stage matches, which rises to as much as $10,000 for knockout games.
- Total Potential Earnings: By officiating the final, Slavko Vincic is in line for the highest performance bonuses. Top-performing officials like him could see their total earnings for the tournament approach $300,000.
Slavko Vincic’s journey through the 2026 World Cup and his role in the final match
The Slavko Vincic has officiated the group-stage matches between Brazil and Morocco, and Jordan and Algeria, as well as the Round of 32 clash between Mexico and Ecuador. And Now FIFA names Slavko Vincic Referee for 2026 World Cup Final in Spain vs Argentina.
Path to the Final
Vinčić is a seasoned 46-year-old UEFA official. His appointment to the final caps a tremendous stretch of high-profile assignments, including the 2024 UEFA Champions League Final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund and the 2022 UEFA Europa League Final.
Vinčić will lead the officiating crew for the deciding match. He will be supported by:
- Assistant Referees: Tomaž Klančnik and Andraž Kovasič (both from Slovenia).
- Fourth Official: Adham Makhadmeh (Jordan).
- VAR: Bastian Dankert (Germany).
History and Profile
Slavko Vincic is considered one of UEFA’s elite referees and has a long history of officiating marquee matchups.
- Career Beginnings: He began refereeing in 1999 at the age of 20 in the Maribor area of Slovenia and debuted in the Slovenian top division in 2007.
- International Status: He has been a FIFA international referee since 2010.
- Major Club Finals: His impressive resume includes refereeing the 2022 UEFA Europa League final and the 2024 UEFA Champions League final.
- World Cup History: Vinčić made his World Cup debut in 2022 in Qatar. Notably, he officiated the memorable group stage match where Saudi Arabia shocked Argentina with a 2-1 victory, which remains Argentina’s last defeat in the World Cup.
Slavko Vincic’s selection brought intriguing historical narratives for both participating nations:
- Argentina: Vinčić was the man in the middle for Argentina’s opening match of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar—a shock 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia that ended their historic 36-match unbeaten run.
- Spain: He previously oversaw Spain’s 1-0 group stage victory over Italy at UEFA EURO 2024 and was the referee for La Roja’s semifinal win over France in the same tournament.
