Referee Slavko Vincic to Officiate Brazil's World Cup Opener

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FIFA has announced the officiating team for Brazil's opening match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to take place this Saturday at 7 p.m. Slavko Vincic, a 46-year-old referee from Slovenia, will be at the helm. Vincic has an impressive track record, having recently officiated Bayern Munich's thrilling 4-3 victory over Real Madrid and PSG's 3-0 win over Chelsea in last season's UEFA Champions League. Additionally, he took charge of the 2023/2024 Champions League final, where Real Madrid emerged victorious over Borussia Dortmund with a 2-0 win. Vincic's World Cup experience includes officiating two group-stage matches in the previous tournament, notably Saudi Arabia's surprising 2-1 win over Argentina and England's solid 3-0 performance against Wales. Assisting Vincic will be Slovenian referees Tomaz Klancnik and Andraz Kovacic. Swiss officials Sandro Schaerer will serve as the fourth official, with Stephane de Almeida as the reserve referee. Brazil is positioned in Group C, alongside Morocco, Scotland, and Haiti.

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