FIFA has announced the match officials for the FIFA World Cup 2026 final and the third-place playoff. The highly anticipated final, scheduled for July 19 local time, will feature defending champions Argentina against Spain. Slovenia’s Slavko Vincic has been selected to referee the final match.
Vincic will be joined by his compatriots Tomaz Klancnik and Andraz Kovacic, who will serve as assistant referees. Adham Makhadmeh is appointed as the fourth official, with Mohammad Alkalaf taking on the role of reserve assistant referee. The announcement of Vincic’s appointment reportedly moved him to tears, highlighting the significance of officiating such a major event.
Vincic’s emotional appointment and career
The emotional reaction from Slavko Vincic upon hearing of his appointment as the main referee for the World Cup final underscored the profound personal meaning of this assignment. The announcement was made public to the referee contingent, and Vincic was visibly moved, struggling to contain his tears before being congratulated by his colleagues.
Being part of a FIFA World Cup final is considered a deeply emotional experience not only for the players representing their nations on the global stage but also for the officials. Vincic’s response demonstrated that the magnitude of the event extends beyond the touchline to those responsible for upholding the game’s integrity.
Vincic is recognised as one of UEFA’s most experienced referees, having been a FIFA-listed official since 2010. His extensive career includes officiating several significant matches, notably the 2024 UEFA Champions League final. At the international level, he managed two matches during the 2022 FIFA World Cup and has already overseen three games in the current edition of the tournament.
His most recent assignment in the ongoing tournament was on July 1, during the Round of 32 match where Mexico defeated Ecuador 2-0. This particular encounter was marked by multiple bookings, including a straight red card issued to Ecuador’s Piero Hincapie for breaching FIFA regulations. Klancnik and Kovacic, who will assist Vincic in the final, have maintained a long-standing officiating partnership on the international circuit for over 10 years.
The road to the final for Argentina and Spain
Argentina secured their place in the final after a dramatic 2-1 victory over England in the semi-final. England initially took the lead in the 55th minute with a goal from Anthony Gordon. However, Enzo Fernandez equalised in the 85th minute following a pass from Lionel Messi. The winning goal came in stoppage time, scored by Lautaro Martinez from a cross delivered by Messi, who played a crucial role in both goals without scoring himself.
This semi-final result ended England’s aspirations of reaching their first World Cup final since 1966. England will now compete against France in the third-place match.
Spain earned their spot in the final by defeating France 2-0, marking their first final appearance since their triumph in 2010. The opening goal for Spain came from a penalty, converted by Mikel Oyarzabal in the 22nd minute, after Lamine Yamal earned the spot-kick. Pedro Porro then doubled Spain’s lead after the break, following a move that involved Dani Olmo.
Despite efforts from Kylian Mbappe and Aurelien Tchouameni, France was unable to find a way back into the match. Spain’s defence remained strong, securing their sixth clean sheet in seven tournament matches and ensuring their second-ever World Cup final appearance. The third-place match will see Venezuela’s Jesus Valenzuela refereeing, assisted by Jorge Urrego and Tulio Moreno, with Jalal Jayed as fourth official and Zakaria Brinsi as reserve assistant referee.
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Source: thenewsmill.com
Priya Nair
Sports Reporter
