Overview
- FIFA, which confirmed the change on Thursday, May 7, granted Fanatics/Topps an exclusive long-term license for physical and digital World Cup collectibles starting in 2031, making 2030 Panini’s final edition.
- Panini remains the official partner for 2026 and 2030, and the 2026 album is already on sale with 980 stickers and an official tool that lets fans create a personalized sticker.
- Topps plans premium products such as autographed Debut Patch cards that use patches from a player’s World Cup debut, and the deal includes a pledge to donate more than $150 million in collectibles.
- Fanatics will also run in-stadium retail at the 2026 World Cup, giving the company a larger on-site role around FIFA events.
- The shift unfolds during active lawsuits between Panini and Fanatics over competition claims, with reporting citing Panini’s ~$720 million in net sales for Qatar 2022 and projections near $1.5 billion for 2026 and 2030 as Fanatics targets more than $4 billion in collectibles in 2026.