The end of an era is coming for football sticker collectors worldwide. After 60 years of partnership, Panini will no longer produce its beloved World Cup sticker albums following the 2030 tournament. The iconic Italian publisher has been the go-to source for those colorful, sticky squares of joy since the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, creating memories for generations of fans who spent countless hours trading duplicates and hunting for that elusive final sticker to complete their collection.

But change is coming to the collecting game. Football's world governing body, FIFA, has signed a new long-term deal with Fanatics, the sports merchandising giant that owns the legendary trading card brand Topps. Starting in 2031, Fanatics will take over the production of sticker albums and trading cards for all FIFA tournaments and events. This isn't Fanatics' first play in the soccer space—they've already replaced Panini as the official collectibles partner for UEFA since 2024.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino framed the move as a fresh chapter for fan engagement. "This provides a new, meaningful way for fans to engage with their favourite teams and with their favourite players," he said, adding that the deal "provides another important commercial revenue stream that we channel back, as always, into the game, into football."

For collectors worried about missing out, don't panic just yet. Panini sticker books will still be available for the upcoming tournaments: this summer's men's World Cup, next year's Women's World Cup, and the 2030 World Cup. So you'll have plenty of time to stock up on those classic albums before the switch. But the countdown has begun—after 60 years of Panini, the collecting landscape is about to look very different.