A football enthusiast has calculated the eye-watering cost of completing the latest Panini FIFA World Cup sticker album ahead of the 2026 tournament. The World Cup, hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, begins on June 11 in Mexico City and concludes on July 19 in East Rutherford. This year's album features 48 teams, including first-time qualifiers like Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Curaçao, and Jordan.
The Cost Breakdown
The fan, an England supporter, shared his calculations in a TikTok video. He explained that each team has 20 stickers, totaling 960, plus 20 extra stickers for the emblem and history section, making 980 stickers in total. Each packet of seven stickers costs £1.25, equating to 17.8p per sticker. Without duplicates, the album would cost around £175. However, the fan noted that duplicates are inevitable, making the real cost much higher.
Reactions and Expert Opinion
Viewers were shocked by the potential expense. One former collector estimated it could cost over £1,000 due to swaps and duplicates. Another said, "Just started collecting these after picking up the free album and now I’m regretting it!" Football finance expert Kieran Maguire calculated that at £2 per packet, the album would cost £2,030, but even at £1.25, it would be £1,268.75.
The Panini-FIFA partnership dates back to 1970, but FIFA recently extended its agreement with Fanatics for collectables from 2031, potentially ending the Panini World Cup sticker album tradition. Panini's current deal covers the 2026 and 2030 World Cups, as well as the 2027 Women's World Cup.
