2026
Player of the Day Promotion
Panini America
PANINI KICKS OFF PLAYER OF THE DAY PROMOTION FOR SOCCER FANS THIS SPRING AND SUMMER AT 500 SHOPS ACROSS THE USA
May 15, 2026
Timed with release of Panini World Cup trading cards, interactive in-store experience gives collectors the chance to win prizes at hobby shops and a VIP experience with a U.S Soccer Star
Panini America announce the launch of its Panini Soccer Player of the Day promotion, an immersive, in-store program designed to engage fans and collectors during the peak spring and summer soccer season. The promotion will run at 500 brick-and-mortar hobby shops across the USA from May 15 through July 31.
Participating shops will receive a free promotional kit which includes soccer themed point of purchase posters, Panini World Cup sticker books, exclusive Player of the Day promo packs, t-shirts, stickers, soccer balls, shopping bags, breaker mat, autographed card, and the new Panini tabletop soccer game.
Timed to coincide with the highly anticipated release of Panini World Cup trading card products; NOIR FIFA Road to the World Cup, Select FIFA Road to the World Cup, National Treasures FIFA Road to the World Cup, Prizm FIFA World Cup, Donruss Road to the World Cup, Prizm Monopoly FIFA World Cup 2026, La Liga Select, and Serie A Select. The program brings a proven collector-favorite concept to shops with new interactive twists.
At the center of the promotion is a vibrant in-store poster featuring 30 international soccer stars, with three iconic wild cards: Kylian Mbappé, Diego Maradona and Robert Lewandowski. Each day, a different player is designated as the “Player of the Day.” Collectors who purchase packs of officially licensed Panini soccer trading cards and uncover that player or wild card win prizes.
In addition to the traditional pack-pull prizing, the promotion introduces a new interactive element designed to bring the energy of the pitch into hobby shops: a tabletop finger-flick soccer game. Participants will have the opportunity to “take their shot” and score a goal for additional bonus prizes, creating a fun, skill-based experience that blends collecting with gameplay.
Daily winners will be entered into weekly drawings at each participating store. As with other Panini Player of the Day programs, the promotion is designed to drive repeat visits, reward collectors of all levels and create a community-focused atmosphere inside hobby shops.
At the conclusion of the on-store element, each shop will award their grand prize winner with an exclusive POD autographed card and enter them into the national sweepstakes. In addition to awarding autographed cards to 25 runners-up, the grand prize winner will win the Panini Soccer Ultimate Collector Fantasy Day which will include Panini swag, exclusive collectibles and the chance to meet a soccer star.
“The global passion for soccer makes it the perfect fit for Player of the Day,” said Jason Howarth, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Athlete Relations for Panini America. “We’re excited to combine the thrill of opening packs with an interactive, game-like experience that brings fans together in stores. Whether you’re chasing your favorite players or stepping up to score a goal, this promotion captures the energy and excitement of the sport.”
Since its debut, Panini’s Player of the Day platform has engaged hundreds of thousands of collectors across multiple sports, connecting fans with their favorite players while driving traffic and excitement at local hobby shops. The soccer edition expands that reach to one of the world’s most passionate fan bases, delivering a uniquely social and interactive collecting experience.
