Khaberni - The debate among football fans and sticker enthusiasts has escalated after the unveiling of the expected costs to complete the 2026 World Cup sticker album, which Panini plans to introduce before the highly anticipated tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The sportbible website said the new album, described as the largest in World Cup history, will contain 980 stickers spread across 112 pages, with a full page dedicated to each of the 48 participating teams, a move reflecting the significant expansion in the number of teams. Each team will feature 20 stickers including players, the team photo, and the federation logo.
The website clarified that, according to a financial expert's estimates, the cost to complete the album could reach about 2030 pounds if a pack containing 7 stickers is priced at about two pounds each. If the packs are priced at 1.70 pounds, the total cost could drop to about 1777 pounds, figures that have stunned many observers.
The company had already announced some initial prices, where the starter pack including the album and four sticker packs is available for 4.99 pounds, while a box containing 100 stickers is priced at 125 pounds. The price for the multi-pack bundle containing six packs without the album is set at 7.50 pounds, which is about 1.25 pounds per pack.
Despite these high figures, experts indicate that swapping stickers among collectors could significantly reduce the costs, potentially dropping to only between 238 and 280 pounds, excluding the price of the album, if relying on exchanges to avoid duplicates.
The public reaction has been furious, with many considering that the current prices could deprive children of one of the most famous football traditions, which was previously a simple activity funded by daily allowance. Some fans reminisced about their experiences with previous versions of the album, when prices were cheap and affordable for everyone.
