For generations of football fans, the ritual of peeling open a fresh pack of Panini stickers and carefully placing them in the official World Cup album has been as much a part of the tournament as the matches themselves. But that beloved tradition is set to change after the 2030 World Cup, as FIFA has announced the end of its 60-year partnership with the Italian sticker publisher.

Panini has been the exclusive producer of World Cup sticker albums since the 1970 tournament in Mexico, creating a cultural phenomenon that has seen collectors of all ages trade duplicates and hunt for elusive shiny foil stickers. However, the 2030 World Cup will be the last to feature the iconic Panini brand, as FIFA has signed a new deal with Fanatics, the collectibles giant that owns Topps.

Starting in 2031, Fanatics will take over production of sticker albums and trading cards for all FIFA tournaments and events. The company already replaced Panini as UEFA's collectibles partner in 2024, producing official stickers and cards for the European Championship and other continental competitions.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino hailed the partnership as "a new, meaningful way for fans to engage with their favourite teams and with their favourite players." He also emphasized the financial upside, stating, "This provides another important commercial revenue stream that we channel back, as always, into the game, into football."

For now, collectors can breathe easy. Panini sticker books will still be available for the upcoming 2026 World Cup, the 2027 Women's World Cup, and the 2030 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain. So there's still plenty of time to complete those albums and savour the nostalgia before a new era of football collectibles begins.