New York: FIFA and Fanatics have officially announced a monumental, long-term exclusive licensing agreement that will redefine football collectibles. Building upon their already robust commercial partnership, the new deal grants Fanatics exclusive rights to produce physical and digital trading cards, stickers, and trading card games for the global football organization.
The comprehensive agreement is set to take full effect in 2031, with all products designed, developed, and distributed by Fanatics Collectibles under the iconic Topps brand.
Key deal highlights
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Exclusive Rights (Starting 2031): Fanatics will be the sole provider of FIFA physical and digital collectibles, trading cards, and stickers.
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Next-Level Product Innovation: Fans can expect highly sought-after memorabilia, including the introduction of debut player jersey patches seamlessly inserted into football trading cards.
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Empowering Youth Football: Over the lifetime of the partnership, Fanatics is committed to distributing more than $150 million in free collectibles to young fans globally, aiming to inspire the next generation of football enthusiasts.
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Topps Heritage: Leveraging Topps’ legacy of innovation—such as the Rookie Debut Patch and MVP patch programs seen in MLB, NFL, and Formula 1—the partnership promises to bring premium game-used memorabilia and relics to global football.
Unprecedented access at Fanatics Fest 2026
The partnership extends well beyond collectibles, intertwining with the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026. For the first time in history, Fanatics Fest will serve as the official hub for critical World Cup events at the Javits Center in New York City:
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Official Press Conferences (July 17, 2026): Two days before the World Cup Final, Fanatics Fest will host the official pre-match press conferences featuring coaches, players, and media availability, complete with an exclusive on-stage moment.
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Massive Watch Party (July 19, 2026): Tens of thousands of expected attendees will gather at Fanatics Fest to watch the FIFA World Cup Final broadcast live across all screens throughout the venue.
This multi-day event presence builds on Fanatics’ existing role as the official on-site retail and merchandising operator for the 2026 tournament, managing both in-stadium operations and FIFA Fan Festival experiences.
Voices of leadership
Gianni Infantino, FIFA President: “Across the sports landscape, we see that Fanatics are driving massive innovation in collectibles that provides fans with a new, meaningful way to engage with their favorite teams and with their favorite players. From FIFA’s point of view, we can globalize 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, Fanatics Founder and CEO: “This is truly a historic day in our company’s history. 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.”
Mike Mahan, Fanatics Collectibles CEO: “We’re incredibly excited to partner with FIFA to deliver truly innovative products that bring fans and collectors closer to their favorite players in the biggest competitions. Through our cutting-edge offerings, we look forward to helping grow both the hobby and the global game as a whole.”
