Brazil and Morocco will open their 2026 World Cup with experienced Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić taking charge of the Group C game.
Vinčić has been regularly assigned to major Champions League and international tournament matches in recent years.
Main Referee Brazil vs. Morocco: Slavko Vinčić
Vinčić is one of Europe’s most experienced FIFA-listed referees and is known for managing high-pressure matches at elite levels.
- Age: 46
- Nationality: Slovenia
- FIFA badge since: 2010
- Major tournaments: FIFA World Cup 2022, UEFA Euro 2020, UEFA Euro 2024, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League
Career Achievements
Vinčić has become one of UEFA’s most trusted referees for important matches over the past decade. He has been selected for multiple major international tournaments and club finals, including:
- 2024 UEFA Champions League final (Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund)
- 2026 UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second leg (FC Bayern München vs. Real Madrid)
- UEFA Euro 2024 (including semifinal between Spain and France)
- 2022 UEFA Europa League final (Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Rangers)
- 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar (including Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia group match)
- UEFA Euro 2020 (quarterfinal: Italy vs. Belgium)
Refereeing Style and Disciplinary Record
Vinčić is known for a controlled and balanced refereeing style with a focus on allowing matches to flow naturally.
Throughout his career, he has built a reputation for maintaining strong game control without over-interrupting play. He has an average of around 4.1 yellow cards per match and has issued relatively few red cards compared to other elite referees
He also reportedly undertakes detailed prematch preparation, particularly in studying team tactics to better anticipate match tempo and intensity.
Controversies and Incidents
Despite his elite reputation, Vinčić’s career has included some controversial or widely discussed moments.
- 2020 off-field incident: In 2020, Vinčić was briefly detained during a police operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina linked to an organized crime investigation. He was cleared of any involvement and released without being charged.
- Manchester United vs. Atlético Madrid (2022). His handling of key match incidents was heavily debated after Atlético’s winning goal.
- Inter Milan vs. Barcelona (2022). Controversy arose over a possible handball and a disallowed Barcelona goal.
Full Officiating Team for Brazil vs. Morocco
FIFA has appointed the following officiating crew for the Group C match:
- Referee: Slavko Vinčić (Slovenia)
- Assistant Referee 1: Tomaž Klančnik (Slovenia)
- Assistant Referee 2: Andraž Kovačič (Slovenia)
- Fourth Official: Sandro Schärer (Switzerland)
- VAR: (to be confirmed by FIFA match officials list)
Referees have already become a major talking point at the 2026 World Cup after Brazilian official Wilton Pereira Sampaio showed three red cards during Mexico’s 2-0 win over South Africa. The match was the most card-heavy opener in World Cup history.
