World Cup Final: Spain Coach De la Fuente Raises Concerns Over FIFA’s Choice of Referee

Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has voiced concerns over FIFA’s appointment of Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić to officiate Sunday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup final against defending champions Argentina.

FIFA confirmed earlier this week that Vinčić would take charge of the title decider, which will see Spain attempt to win their second World Cup crown while Argentina seek to retain the trophy they lifted in Qatar in 2022.

Speaking ahead of the final, De la Fuente said he hoped the referee would be alert to what he described as Argentina’s tendency to engage in gamesmanship during matches.

The Spain coach referred to Vinčić’s previous experience officiating Argentina, recalling their shock 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

That match featured several contentious decisions and ended with one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.

Although De la Fuente stopped short of criticising the referee directly, he stressed the importance of strict enforcement of the rules in a match of such significance.

“The referee must not remain passive and allow the rules to be violated,” he told Sport.

“Those boundaries of football legality must not be crossed. I have complete confidence in the referees, but I also firmly believe that we understand the nature of the match we need to prepare for.”

Argentina have faced criticism from some observers during the tournament over their style of play and alleged attempts to influence match officials.

The South Americans have also attracted attention for what critics described as a relatively favourable tournament schedule that reduced travel demands compared with several other teams.

Despite those concerns, De la Fuente insisted Spain’s focus would remain firmly on their own performance rather than their opponents’ tactics.

“They will play their style of football, but we must concentrate solely on our own, on enhancing our approach and refining it,” he said.

“If we deviate from our philosophy and our model, we will encounter difficulties.”

The Spanish manager also urged his players to maintain their discipline regardless of any attempts to provoke them during the match.

“We are comfortable in the football environment, in the game, in adhering to our principles, and in resisting provocations,” he added.

Spain head into the final after defeating France 2-0 in the semi-finals, while Argentina booked their place with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over England.

Sunday’s encounter is expected to be one of the most closely contested World Cup finals in recent history, with both nations seeking to add another title to their illustrious football records.