Slavko Vincic Retires After 2026 World Cup Final

Slavko Vincic, a Slovenian match official, officially ended his career a week after officiating the 2026 World Cup Final, which took place at MetLife Stadium between Spain and Argentina. At 46 years old, Vincic chose to retire at the peak of his career, as announced by the Football Association of Slovenia (NZS).

His refereeing career spanned significant events since 2010, including over fifty UEFA Champions League (UCL) and Europa League finals, culminating in the UCL 2024 final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund at Wembley. Vincic's performance at the World Cup was highly praised, earning him recognition as the best match official from the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) and the prestigious Giulio Campanati Award from the Italy Referee Association.

During the World Cup, he officiated three matches, including the final where he issued one red card and nine yellow cards.