Neymar is left out of the 2026 World Cup album and Panini explains selection criteria

Quarenta years of tradition in Copa collectibles from Mundo gain a new chapter. The 2026 edition album is now ready for newsstands and has a notable absence.

Neymar is not part of the 980 stickers in the collection. Panini launched the product this Saturday at an event at São Paulo and confirmed that the attacker was left out of the Brazilian selection for the album. The star participated in the last three Copas and respective albums, but his last call-up to Seleção took place in October 2023.

Seleção of players follows call-up data

The choice of the 18 athletes who represent Brasil in the album came from a specialized team from Panini to Itália. Raul Vallecillo, CEO of the company at Brasil, detailed the process in an interview.

A specific department monitors call-ups and calculates the probabilities of each player being in Copa. The criteria considers recent performance and call history. Lesões, surprises or coaching changes could change the scenario, but the final decision is based on these numbers.

• Alisson, Bento, Marquinhos, Éder Militão, Gabriel Magalhães, Danilo and Wesley form the group of goalkeepers and defenders
• Casemiro, Lucas Paquetá and Bruno Guimarães appear in midfield
• Luiz Henrique, Vinícius Jr, Rodrygo, João Pedro, Matheus Cunha, Gabriel Martinelli, Raphinha and Estêvão complete the attack

The list includes Rodrygo, who is currently absent, and Estêvão, who is recovering from a serious muscle injury. The production of stickers began in 2025, when the teams qualified for the Mundial.

Produção of the album started right after the previous Copa

Work on the 2026 collection began the day after the end of the 2022 Copa. Panini defined the concept, size and artwork as the selections guaranteed a place. Para this edition, the greater number of participants required adjustments at the Brazilian factory.

Operation on Brasil serves all América Latina except México, Estados Unidos and Canadá. The country leads regional demand because of its population of over 200 million and its strong passion for football. The album has become an event that attracts children and adults alike.

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Fábrica operates 24 hours a day to meet demand

The increase in the number of selections practically doubled the size of the collection. Panini expanded the factory and started working three continuous shifts. The production of Copa represents a multiplication of 10 to 15 times in relation to a common collection.

Todas stickers are printed in the same quantity. The feeling of rarity arises from public demand, which keeps more cards of popular players. Não there is a manufacturing difference between one figure and another.

Álbum and bundles arrive in stores from April 30th

The complete product and individual packages will be available from April 30th. For now, pre-sales take place online. Cada package with seven stickers costs R$7.

The collection maintains well-known elements, such as holographic stickers and different versions of some stickers. The book has pages dedicated to the Brazilian team with photos and details of the chosen athletes.

Panini prepares the ground for the tournament that starts in June 2026. Enquanto the definitive call-up for the Brazilian team only comes out on May 18th, the album already allows collectors to put together the team that the company considers most likely.