World Cup Final Marks the End: The Man Who Oversaw Spain's Triumph Hangs Up His Whistle

"A week after officiating the World Cup final in the USA, Slavko Vinčič officially concluded his historic refereeing career at the sport's pinnacle," announced the Slovenian Football Association in an official statement. The Maribor native became the first Slovenian to referee a World Cup final.

Following the tournament, the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) named him the best referee of the World Cup. He also received the Giulio Campanati Award, presented to the top official of the final tournament. During the group stage, he officiated matches between Brazil and Morocco, and Jordan and Algeria, before also taking charge of the Round of 16 clash between Mexico and Ecuador.

Vinčič had been a FIFA referee since 2010 and joined UEFA's elite group in 2019. He officiated at Euro 2020 and 2024, as well as the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. At the club level, he notably refereed the 2022 Europa League final between Eintracht Frankfurt and Glasgow Rangers, and the 2024 Champions League final, where Real Madrid defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-0.