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UEFA to Add Removable 'Debut' Patches to Champions League Kits

The deal gives Fanatics-owned Topps the right to collect and authenticate patches worn in a player's first Champions League appearance for conversion into ultra-rare one-of-one trading cards.

Overview

  • The agreement announcing the program and a six-year extension of ToppsUEFA club competitions partnership was made public on September 2, 2026.
  • Players who make their first appearance in the men’s Champions League in 2026/27 will wear a removable debut patch that is taken off after the match and sent to Topps for authentication and card production.
  • Only players who actually enter the match, whether as starters or substitutes who come on, are eligible to receive a patch; unused bench players do not qualify until they play.
  • Topps will embed authenticated patches into one-of-one trading cards scheduled for inclusion in its UEFA Champions League Chrome product later this season, and the Women’s Champions League rollout is expected in 2027/28.
  • Key operational details such as final patch design, exact card release timing, and whether every debut-patch card will include player autographs have not been disclosed, a gap that will shape collector value and raise questions about kit rules and match-day handling.