Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic and Argentina legend Lionel Messi (Img: Pinterest)
New Delhi: FIFA has appointed Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic to officiate the much-awaited FIFA World Cup 2026 final between Argentina and Spain. Vincic will take charge of the title clash, with fellow Slovenian officials Tomaz Klancnik and Andraz Kovacic joining him as assistant referees.
The appointment marks one of the biggest moments of Vincic's refereeing career, but the decision has brought back uncomfortable memories for Argentina supporters.
Argentina fans still remember Vincic's involvement in one of the biggest upsets in recent World Cup history. The Slovenian referee was in charge when Argentina suffered a stunning 2-1 defeat against Saudi Arabia in their opening match of the **2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar**.
The match at Lusail Stadium started positively for Lionel Messi and Argentina. Vincic awarded Argentina a penalty in the eighth minute, which Messi converted to give his team an early lead.
However, Saudi Arabia produced a remarkable second-half comeback, scoring twice to complete one of the tournament's biggest surprises. The defeat left Argentina under pressure early in the competition, although they later recovered and went on to win the World Cup.
The Saudi Arabia match remains the only occasion when Lionel Messi and Argentina have lost a game with Vincic as the referee.
While Vincic has not officiated many Argentina matches, his connection with that historic defeat has made his World Cup final appointment a talking point among fans.
Unlike Argentina, Spain has had more encounters with Vincic in major international competitions. The Slovenian referee has handled several important matches involving La Roja, including games in European tournaments.
Vincic officiated Spain's Euro 2024 matches against Italy and France, including the semi-final against France, where Spain secured a place in the final.
His experience handling high-pressure international fixtures was one of the reasons behind FIFA's decision to assign him the World Cup final.
Vincic has already officiated three matches at the 2026 World Cup. One of the most discussed moments came during the Mexico vs Ecuador game, where he issued a red card after a controversial incident involving Ecuador defender Piero Hincapie.
With refereeing decisions often becoming a major talking point in important matches, Vincic will face intense scrutiny when Argentina and Spain meet for football's biggest prize.
