FIFA, Fanatics Forge Landmark Collectibles Partnership, World Cup Final Spectacle

In a significant expansion of their existing commercial ties, FIFA and Fanatics have today announced a long-term, exclusive licensing agreement for football collectibles, encompassing trading cards, stickers, and trading card games. This historic deal, set to fully commence in 2031, will cover both physical and digital collectibles, bringing unprecedented innovation to fans globally.

A key highlight of this new partnership is the introduction of the highly coveted player jersey patch programme to international football.

From 2031 onwards, these sought-after patches, including debut patches, will be inserted into football trading cards. All products will be meticulously designed and developed by Fanatics Collectibles and produced under the iconic Topps brand.

Beyond the commercial aspect, Fanatics has pledged a substantial commitment to youth football worldwide, promising to distribute over $150 million worth of free collectibles throughout the partnership’s lifetime. This initiative aims to inspire young people in every region of the globe.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed his enthusiasm, stating: “Fanatics are driving massive innovation in collectibles that provides fans with a new, meaningful way to engage with their favourite teams and with their favourite players. From FIFA’s point of view, we can globalise that fan engagement precisely thanks to our global tournament portfolio, and this provides another important commercial revenue stream that we channel back, as always, into the game, into football.”

Michael Rubin, founder and CEO of Fanatics, echoed this sentiment, calling it “a truly historic day in our company’s history.” He added, “Global football is the biggest growth opportunity in sports, and when you combine the power of FIFA with the innovation and entrepreneurial backbone of Fanatics, together we’re poised to elevate storytelling and collectibles around the game in a way that’s never been seen before.”

In an exciting development for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Final, Fanatics Fest will host the official pre-match press conferences on Friday, 17th July 2026, two days before the final match. This unprecedented event will see coaches, players, and media gather for a special on-stage moment. Furthermore, on Sunday, 19th July 2026, Fanatics Fest will transform into a colossal watch party, airing the FIFA World Cup Final live across all screens at the Javits Center for tens of thousands of expected attendees.

This new collectibles agreement builds upon an already successful relationship between FIFA and Fanatics, who are also the official on-site retail and merchandising operators for the FIFA World Cup 2026.