SportFootballWorld Cup 2026Slavko Vincic has chosen to end his refereeing career after arguably reaching the peak of his field by taking charge of a World Cup final07:54, 27 Jul 2026Updated 08:16, 27 Jul 2026The Slovenian FA have confirmed that World Cup final referee Slavko Vincic has officially retired. The 46-year-old was selected by FIFA to officiate Spain's prestigious win over Argentina and has now chosen to end his career, as confirmed by the football association of his home country.‌The opening to their official statement read: "One week after the World Cup final in the USA, Slavko Vinčić officially concluded his historic refereeing career at the very top of the world.‌"The Maribor native became the first Slovenian head referee to officiate the grand final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, confirming his status as one of the greatest officials in history.‌"As the crowning achievement of his farewell season, the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) named him the best referee of the World Cup, and he received the prestigious Giulio Campanati award in Italy."Their statement went on to mention his best achievements which includes being involved in three Europa League finals and refereeing the 2022 showpiece between Frankfurt and Rangers.JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football's Facebook page‌Two years later he took charge of the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund with his vast experience in crucially important games seemingly playing a role in his World Cup final selection.Upon learning of the honour being bestowed upon him, Vincic broke down in tears. He had overseen three games earlier in the tournament including the knockout clash between Ecuador and Mexico.He was forced to send off Piero Hincapie in that match after the Arsenal star covered his mouth to speak to a Mexico player during a heated exchange.‌The red card was also displayed by Vincic at MetLife Stadium after Argentina's Enzo Fernandez committed two yellow card offences.The 2022 champions were perhaps fortunate to only have one player dismissed with Leandro Parades' conduct disgraceful after he came on as a substitute. The midfielder was one of many involved in a post-match brawl with Vicnic struggling to keep the players apart.Article continues belowA FIFA investigation was launched in the aftermath but there is yet to be a definitive outcome with the only official update being that Parades was not actually shown a red card by Vicnic after the final whistle.Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌World Cup 2026FIFAFIFA World Cup