• 4 minute read
  • Published June 24, 2026

By all accounts, the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been a smashing success so far. The games have delivered drama, fans from across the globe are connecting like never before, and our very own USMNT has already qualified for the Round of 32.

While that isn’t to say the global event has been perfect off the pitch, the quadrennial tournament has captivated audiences around the world. Here in America, where ‘soccer’ doesn’t crack the “Big Four” sports, it looks like us Yanks are not only watching, we’re buying in, too.

According to new data from eBay, global searches for “soccer” spiked to more than 3,200 times per hour on average in May 2026, just weeks before supporters descended on North America for the World Cup. In fact, compared to the start of the year, searches for World Cup items on eBay were up nearly 1000% in some cases, with fans searching for just about anything they could get their hands on, from cards and jerseys to sticker albums from the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

  • “World Cup” sold items: up more than 840%
  • “World Cup Card”: up more than 780%
  • “World Cup ball”: up more than 640%
  • “World Cup Jersey”: up more than 510%
  • “Panini FIFA World Cup Sticker Album 2022”: up more than 180%

eBay searches for vintage soccer jerseys also grew more than 50% from January to May. How very Coachella of us, ‘Murica.

Supporting the Superstars

When it comes to soccer, the GOAT conversation is even more nuanced than those arguing over Jordan vs. LeBron. Point and case: When it comes to Messi vs. Ronaldo, you have to clarify whether you’re talking about R7 or R9. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that stars old and new were a massive driver behind year-over-year search growth on eBay last month:

  • Luis Diaz — more than 400%
  • Sadio Mane — more than 240%
  • Lionel Messi — more than 150%
  • Vinicius Junior — more than 140%
  • Cristiano Ronaldo — more than 110%
  • Diego Maradona — more than 110%
  • Landon Donovan — more than 110%
  • Christian Pulisic — more than 100%
  • Luis Suarez — more than 100%

Last year, the top five most-searched soccer players on eBay were Lamine Yamal, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappé, all of which rose to global stardom in Europe. The fact that Donovan and Pulisic registered a 100%+ year-over-year increase last month suggests U.S. fans are supporting their own, rather than flocking to the game’s biggest and best, even if more Americans are watching European soccer than ever before.

More Ways to Watch—and Collect

eBay’s data arrives during one of the most active periods for U.S. soccer media rights in the sport’s history. The Premier League’s latest U.S. TV deal, struck in 2022, keeps the league on NBCUniversal through 2028, while Paramount paid big bucks for a 6-year deal to broadcast the UEFA Champions League the same year; the MLS began a 10-year, $2.5 billion Apple TV deal a year after; and Telemundo extended its U.S. Soccer rights through 2030 just a month ago. 

With Americans having more access to broadcasts of the beautiful game, Fanatics is poised to cash in. To start, Topps has been swooping in to broker deals with the sport’s largest and most-followed federations. However, we can’t collect $200 for passing go just yet, as their FIFA license is scheduled to begin in 2031.

Until then, Panini’s status as the official card of this year’s World Cup remains intact, and they are leaning heavily into that exclusive window. To capture the tournament’s biggest milestones as they happen, Panini is dropping a new batch of “Instant” cards this afternoon (June 24) at 3:00 p.m. ET. Designed so fans don’t have to wait months for new products to commemorate real-time history, this limited-run batch features Lamine Yamal’s first World Cup goal, Mohammed Salah leading Egypt to its first World Cup win, and Kevin Pina securing Cape Verde’s first-ever World Cup goal. The cards start at $9.99 and will be available for a limited time while supplies last.

Pour one out for those who collect Panini’s beloved World Cup stickers, though, as Topps has come for that license, too. That said, there is a lot to look forward to if you’re a soccer fan. Fanatics’ new FIFA debut patch program will undoubtably produce some of the most coveted soccer cards on the market, but cards aren’t the only collectibles making waves.

Just this month, Upper Deck announced a new licensing agreement with U.S. Soccer and the U.S. National Soccer Team Players Association to become the official home for authentic memorabilia for both the USMNT and USWNT. Capitalizing on the current World Cup momentum, Upper Deck Authenticated is rolling out prints celebrating the USMNT’s journey game-by-game. Looking ahead to the Women’s World Cup next year, they are also launching dedicated memorabilia collections, including signed jerseys and prints, for U.S. stars like former captain Alex Morgan and breakout forward Trinity Rodman.

As Mantel covered earlier this month, even if you’re not in to sports cards and stickers their are plenty of ways to collect the World Cup. So, what are you waiting for?

Who are you picking up this World Cup? Let us know on Mantel.

Source: Onmantel.com