Overview
- FIFA, in an agreement announced Thursday, granted Fanatics through its Topps brand exclusive rights to World Cup and other FIFA tournament stickers and trading cards starting in 2031.
- Panini will remain the partner through the 2030 tournament, closing a near six-decade association that began with the 1970 World Cup.
- Fanatics plans new products such as autographed Debut Patch cards that place a player’s authenticated World Cup debut jersey patch inside a signed card, with some programs starting before 2031.
- Fanatics pledged to donate more than $150 million in collectibles for children in multiple countries during the term of the deal.
- The shift comes during ongoing litigation in which Panini accuses Fanatics of monopolistic tactics and Fanatics denies the claims in a counter-suit while pushing to expand a collectibles business still concentrated in the United States.