Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić has officially announced his retirement from refereeing at the age of 46, bringing an end to a stellar 16-season career among Europe’s elite officials.
Vinčić’s decision comes just one week after he officiated the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina in New Jersey, where La Roja secured a 1-0 victory to claim their second World Cup title.
The Slovenian official began his international career in 2010. Over the years, he featured in four UEFA European Championship tournaments across various refereeing roles, establishing himself as one of UEFA’s most trusted match officials for high-stakes fixtures.
Vinčić made his World Cup debut as a head referee at Qatar 2022, taking charge of two matches, including Saudi Arabia’s historic 2-1 group stage upset over Argentina.
He continued his rise at UEFA Euro 2024, refereeing the marquee group stage clash between Spain and Italy, as well as the semi-final encounter between Spain and France. This followed his appointment a year earlier for the 2023 UEFA Nations League semi-final, also between Spain and Italy.
At the club level, Vinčić officiated the 2022 UEFA Europa League final, where Eintracht Frankfurt defeated Rangers on penalties. He later reached a pinnacle in club football by refereeing the 2024 UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium.
After appearing at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Vinčić returned to the global stage for his second World Cup in 2026. He navigated matches through the group stage and knockout rounds before earning the ultimate appointment: leading the World Cup final.
By doing so, Vinčić became the first Slovenian referee to ever officiate a FIFA World Cup final. He hangs up his whistle with a grand slam of major finals—the World Cup, Champions League, and Europa League—bowing out at the very peak of international refereeing.
