Get ready for a fresh twist on World Cup tradition! This summer, every player stepping onto the pitch for their first-ever World Cup match will wear a special debut patch on their shirt—a collectible badge that adds a whole new layer of excitement for fans and collectors alike.

Stars like Erling Haaland and rising sensation Lamine Yamal will be among those making their tournament debuts, alongside every member of the Scotland squad, who return to the global stage after a long hiatus. The patches, designed to commemorate these milestone moments, will be removed after each player's first game and transformed into unique Topps trading cards.

This innovative move is part of a new licensing agreement that will see Fanatics take over from Panini as FIFA's official trading card and sticker partner starting in 2031. While the exact design of the World Cup patch is still under wraps, the concept is already tried and tested in U.S. sports—Major League Soccer introduced similar debut patches in 2024, and they've been a hit with fans.

Here's how it works: Each team receives a supply of adhesive patches, which are placed on the upper-right chest of a player's shirt before their debut. After the final whistle, the patch is carefully removed and attached to a one-of-a-kind trading card. That card is then randomly inserted into Topps Chrome MLS hobby boxes (retailing around $120 each), with each box containing 21 packs of four cards—including two autographed cards. While the MLS cards are signed by the players, it hasn't been confirmed yet whether World Cup debut cards will follow suit.

Since the Fanatics deal doesn't kick in until 2031, these debut cards won't be available to buy until after that date. That means a massive stockpile of cards from the 2026 and 2030 World Cups will eventually hit the market, creating a treasure trove for collectors. This summer alone, expect upwards of 600 debut cards to be produced!

Among the teams making their first-ever World Cup appearances are Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan. Meanwhile, nations like Austria, the Czech Republic, DR Congo, Haiti, Iraq, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Scotland, and Turkey are returning after long absences, with almost entirely new squads. Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Ivory Coast are back for the first time in 12 years, adding even more debutants to the mix.

Whether you're a die-hard collector or just love the game, these debut patches and cards are set to become a must-have piece of World Cup history. Keep an eye out for your favorite players—they might just be wearing a piece of the future on their sleeve!