The Saudi football collectibles partnership will see Topps enter an exclusive long-term licensing arrangement with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation beginning in 2028. The agreement covers trading cards, stickers, trading card games and related accessories tied to the federation's national football programs. According to the announcement, the relationship will remain in place beyond the 2034 men's World Cup, creating a long-term framework for licensed collectibles linked to Saudi national teams.
🔑 Key Highlights
- Licensing agreement begins in 2028
- Covers men's, women's and youth national teams
- Includes trading cards, stickers, TCG products and accessories
- Grants exclusive collective player licensing rights
- Partnership continues beyond the 2034 men's World Cup
Through the agreement, Topps will develop products connected to the federation's men's, women's and youth national teams. The company will gain rights to use team names, logos and crests appearing on official federation shirts. The licensing package also includes exclusive collective player rights, allowing products to feature national team players' names and images during competition. As a result, future releases may include autograph cards, patch cards and collectibles containing match-worn relic elements.
The announcement comes alongside broader developments within Topps' global football collectibles business. The company recently disclosed an exclusive collectibles agreement with FIFA that is scheduled to begin in 2031. That timeline places the federation partnership within a wider football licensing portfolio that already includes major competitions and organizations across the sport.
Saudi Arabia is set to host the men's World Cup in 2034, which the announcement identifies as the first men's World Cup covered under Topps' FIFA agreement. Federation President Yasser Al Misehal said the partnership reflects growing international interest in Saudi football and its national teams. He added that planned products, including dedicated trading card collections and special-edition collectible boxes, are intended to strengthen connections between supporters and players while highlighting the country's football history.
The agreement is expected to expand collectible offerings available to football supporters while creating new opportunities for fan engagement. David Leiner, President of Trading Cards at Topps, said the company intends to introduce product innovation through the partnership. He also described the Saudi collectibles market as one of the fastest-growing regions in the sector and said the collaboration aims to enhance the collector experience while supporting continued growth of the hobby across the Gulf region.
📊 What This Means (Our Analysis)
This agreement stands out because it combines long-term team rights, player rights and multiple product categories under a single licensing structure. By including men's, women's and youth national teams, the partnership creates a broad platform for collectibles that can serve different groups of supporters while maintaining a consistent identity across product lines.
The timing also strengthens Fanatics' position in football collectibles through its Topps brand. With the federation agreement beginning before the FIFA collectibles arrangement takes effect and extending beyond the 2034 men's World Cup, the partnership establishes continuity across key football properties and creates additional opportunities to deepen fan engagement through officially licensed products.
📌 Our Take: The agreement underscores how long-term licensing strategies are becoming central to the future growth of football collectibles.