The defeat of the Argentine National Team against Spain in the 2026 World Cup final not only left a football analysis. The performance of Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić became one of the main points of discussion due to several decisions that marked the course of the match played at MetLife Stadium.
The appointment of the referee had already raised questions before the match. Confirmed by FIFA just days before the final, Vinčić arrived at the decisive match having officiated only one knockout match in the tournament (Mexico-Ecuador in the Round of 16), a situation that caught the attention of various media. Additionally, the World Cup had already been marked by criticism of the refereeing, with complaints from several teams regarding the disciplinary criteria applied during the competition.
In the decisive match, there were several actions that fueled the controversy. One of the most significant came at the end of regular time with the expulsion of Enzo Fernández. The midfielder received a second yellow card after a serious foul on Pau Cubarsí. However, the greatest controversy centered on the first warning: Enzo had been penalized for protesting after claiming a foul by Rodri that the referee did not call, a decision that the Argentine camp considered excessive and that ultimately affected the outcome of the final.
