Final World Cup referee breaks down crying upon hearing assignment news — video

The FIFA International Federation announced the appointment of Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic to officiate the 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New York-New Jersey. Vincic is the first Slovenian referee to preside over a World Cup final, marking the 23rd time in the tournament's history. This selection is a significant achievement for the referee, who is highly trusted by UEFA and has previously managed important matches in this edition of the tournament. These appointments fall within his responsibilities for overseeing the final match, following his supervision of other games in the tournament, with German referee Bastian Dankert responsible for VAR (Video Assistant Referee) duties.