Who Is the Referee In Brazil vs. Morocco World Cup Match?
Brazil and Morocco will open their 2026 World Cup group-stage campaigns with experienced Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić taking charge of the Group C game.
The Group C fixture between Brazil and Morocco will be overseen by one of UEFA's most trusted elite officials, Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić, who has been regularly assigned to major Champions League and international tournament matches in recent years.
Main Referee Brazil vs. Morocco: Slavko Vinčić
Slavko Vinčić is one of Europe's most experienced referees and a long-standing FIFA-listed official known for managing high-pressure matches at the very top level.
- 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 Quarter-Final Second Leg (FC Bayern München v Real Madrid)
- UEFA Euro 2024 (including semi-final duties 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 (quarter-final: 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 has a detailed pre-match preparation, particularly in studying team tactics to better anticipate match tempo and intensity.
World Cup Referee Appts:
— Matthew Kirby (@m_kirby95) June 10, 2026
Group C:
Brazil v Morocco
Ref: Slavko Vincic
Averages 25.4 fouls per game this season
Group B:
Qatar v Switzerland
Ref: Hector Said Martinez
His 2 Club World Cup games last year averaged 32 fouls pg pic.twitter.com/wkFyGORrYT
Controversies and Incidents
Despite his elite reputation, Vinčić's career has included some controversial and widely discussed moments.
- 2020 Off-Field Incident: In 2020, Vinčić was briefly detained during a police operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina linked to an organised crime investigation. He was later cleared of any involvement and released without charge.
- Manchester United vs Atlético Madrid (2022), where his handling of key match incidents was heavily debated after Atlético's winning goal
- Inter Milan vs Barcelona (2022), which included controversy over a possible handball incident and a disallowed Barcelona goal
Despite these debates, Vinčić has continued to be appointed to major UEFA finals and international tournament matches.
Full Refereeing Team for Brazil vs. Morocco
FIFA has appointed the following officiating crew for the Group C encounter:
- 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 3 red cards during Mexico's 2-0 win over South Africa. It made the match the most card-heavy opener in World Cup history.
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This story was originally published June 13, 2026 at 5:45 PM.