FIFA is set to introduce special “debut patches” for players making their first appearance at the 2026 World Cup. The patches will be worn during a player’s first World Cup match and later removed from the jerseys to be turned into collectible trading cards under FIFA’s partnership with Fanatics and Topps.
Big-name stars expected to wear the patch include Erling Haaland, Lamine Yamal, and Michael Olise if they feature in their first World Cup games next summer.
The idea is inspired by systems already used in American sports and in Major League Soccer, where debut patches are attached to jerseys and later embedded into memorabilia cards. FIFA has not yet revealed the final design of the patch or confirmed whether the cards will include player autographs.
The initiative comes ahead of the expanded 48-team 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is expected to feature hundreds of tournament debutants — including players from first-time qualifiers such as Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan.
