A major chapter in football memorabilia history is set to close after FIFA confirmed that Panini will no longer produce official World Cup sticker albums following the 2030 tournament. The decision brings an end to a partnership that has lasted for six decades and has become a cherished tradition for football fans across generations.

Panini first introduced its World Cup sticker albums during the 1970 FIFA World Cup in Mexico. Since then, collecting and trading stickers has become an inseparable part of the World Cup experience for millions of supporters around the world.

FIFA Signs New Agreement With Fanatics and Topps

From 2031 onwards, FIFA’s official stickers and trading cards for tournaments and events will be produced by Fanatics

, the company that owns the collectibles brand Topps.

The company has already established a strong presence in football collectibles after taking over UEFA’s licensing rights from Panini in 2024. The latest agreement now expands its role into FIFA competitions as well.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino welcomed the partnership and highlighted the commercial and fan engagement opportunities it could create.

“A new, meaningful way for fans to engage with their favourite teams and with their favourite players,” Infantino said while discussing the agreement.

Panini Albums to Continue Until 2030 World Cup

Despite the upcoming change, Panini’s famous sticker collections are not disappearing immediately. Fans will still be able to enjoy official Panini albums for this summer’s FIFA tournament, the next FIFA Women’s World Cup, and the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

The announcement marks the end of one of football’s most nostalgic traditions, with generations of fans having grown up collecting, swapping, and completing Panini World Cup sticker albums.

The situation surrounding Mike Vrabel, Dianna Russini and the New England Patriots has escalated into a major offseason scandal

On Thursday, Jemele Hill, who is the contributing writer at The Atlantic, posted a strong tweet, directed at Robert Kraft’s team.

“The Patriots are fooling themselves if they think this story is just going to go away,” she wrote. “Now that it’s crossed over into tabloid territory, they’re not only going to be digging through the crates, but following his every move from here on out.”

Hill, in her tweet, also pointed out her article, which was published on Monday in The Atlantic, where she wrote a lengthy opinion piece, titled, “Why One Coach’s Personal Life Is a Sports-Wide Scandal.”

In the article, Hill detailed how Vrabel’s public image shifted dramatically after Page Six published intimate photos of him and Russini at an Arizona resort on April 7.

Hill noted that Vrabel had entered the offseason on a high note after he led his former team, the Patriots to the Super Bowl in his first season as head coach.

In her column, Hill also wrote that the situation pointed finger to concerns about journalism ethics and relationships between reporters and sources in sports media.

Her tweet came one day after TMZ published an old video of Vrabel and Russini about to board a boat in Tennessee. The clip dates back to June 2021, when Russini was heavily pregnant with her first son, Michael. Back then, Vrabel was the Tennessee Titans coach and Russini worked as a lead reporter for ESPN.

Adding to the April 7 photos from Arizona, second batch of photos involving Vrabel and Russini were released on April 23.

Photos published by Page Six show the pair at the Tribeca Tavern in New York City in January 2020. Allegedly, they appeared to be sharing a kiss.

Next, TMZ released images of the two at a Biloxi casino in January 2024.

Currently, Dianna Russini is married to Kevin Goldschmidt, a senior manager for Shake Shack. They tied the knot on Sept. 26, 2020. The couple has two children together.

Meanwhile, Mike Vrabel is married to Jennifer (Jen) Vrabel since 1999. They have two sons, Tyler and Carter. However, Daily Mail reported on April 30 that Vrabel is facing ultimatum from Jennifer to drop Dianna Russini forever.

Also Read: Dianna Russini sitting on Mike Vrabel’s lap”: NFL employee puts major allegation against Patriots HC over “open secret” affair with insider