Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić revealed the behind-the-scenes details of his officiating the 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, speaking about his dialogue with Lionel Messi, his assessment of the refereeing crew's performance, as well as his opinion on the Video Assistant Referee technology.
In statements reported by the Argentine newspaper "TN Todo Noticias," Vinčić confirmed that receiving the news of his selection to officiate the World Cup final was one of the most prominent moments of his refereeing career.
He said: "When the FIFA Referees Committee informed me that I would officiate the World Cup final, it was shocking at first, then it turned into a great feeling of pride and responsibility."
His talk with Messi
The Slovenian referee touched on the dialogue that took place between him and Argentine national team captain Lionel Messi during the match, but he refused to reveal its details.
He said: "I will leave this talk on the field, but I can say that Messi behaved in a sportsmanlike manner."
He pointed out that the match did not witness any major disagreements between him and the Argentine national team captain, confirming that the atmosphere remained within the framework of normal competition.
He also considered that the best evidence of the refereeing crew's success in managing the match is the absence of refereeing controversy after the final.
He explained: "I think our refereeing strategy was correct, and the fact that we were not the subject of discussion after the match is the greatest source of satisfaction."
He added: "This success was not individual, but came thanks to the collective work with my assistants Tomaž Klančnik and Andraž Kovačič."
Preparation for the World Cup final
He also revealed the method of preparation for the final match, explaining that the refereeing crew conducted a detailed study of the two teams' playing styles and the players' behavior.
He said: "We study the players' characteristics, how they interact during stoppages of play, and the quality of their performance, but it is impossible to prepare for everything, because every match has its own story."
He defended the Video Assistant Referee technology, confirming that it has become a necessity in modern football.
He concluded his statements by saying: "At least 90% of the results have been positive since the application of the Video Assistant Referee technology."
