Belgian Schools Ban Panini Stickers as World Cup Fever Grows

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, a growing number of Belgian schools are banning Panini sticker collections after the trading craze sparked conflicts, arguments, and fights among students. The phenomenon has left school administrations grappling with how to manage the beloved playground tradition without letting it disrupt classroom order.

According to Het Laatste Nieuws, the 2026 Panini World Cup sticker collection contains 980 stickers — the largest ever produced, reflecting the tournament’s expansion to 48 teams. A packet of stickers costs €1.50, and completing the entire album can cost an estimated €1,500 to €2,000.

Schools Take Action

Basisschool Het Hinkelpad in Berchem (Antwerp) was among the first to act, banning Panini stickers until the end of the school year after parents were asked to keep the sticker books at home due to playground conflicts. Basisschool De Zonnebloem in Antwerpen has also imposed a ban.

Director Arianne Verheyen of De Zonnebloem explained the decision: “Children argue about which sticker belongs to whom, teachers have no control over who trades which sticker or how fair such a trade is. That’s the reason we banned them.” Students who bring stickers to school must surrender them and can collect them at the end of the week from the principal’s office.

A Different Approach: Regulation Over Prohibition

Not all schools are opting for outright bans. Gemeentelijke Basisschool Op Dreef in Zelem (Halen) has introduced a “Panini-reglement” (Panini regulation) instead. The rules are clear: trading is only allowed during the first break, trades must be fair and make both students happy, one sticker is never traded for two, and any disagreement immediately cancels the deal.

Director Ellen Corstjens of Op Dreef views the sticker trend as an educational opportunity rather than a problem. “Students learn to follow rules, trade fairly, and consider each other,” she said. “That’s why we see learning opportunities rather than reasons to ban the stickers.”

Expert Opinion: Bans May Backfire

Pedagogue Bert Smits argues against outright bans, warning that they may merely displace the problem. “Collecting and trading on the playground is timeless. Children learn a lot from it,” Smits told HLN. He cautioned that bans could drive trading outside school grounds where there is no supervision, potentially leading to worse outcomes. Schools should instead seize the phenomenon as a “learning and educational opportunity.”

A Broader Educational Debate

The Panini sticker controversy comes amid broader discussions about school regulations in Belgium. In September 2025, the Flemish government implemented a smartphone ban in all primary and secondary schools. The sticker debate parallels this discussion about what schools should regulate versus what children should learn to manage themselves.

Belgian schools have a history of managing playground trends. As early as 2014, Het Nieuwsblad reported that the Xaveriuscollege in Borgerhout (Antwerp) had already banned Panini sticker trading. The current wave of bans coincides with the approach of the 2026 World Cup, which runs from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The End of an Era

In a related development, FIFA announced on May 7 that it will end its 60-year partnership with Panini after the 2030 World Cup. As BBC Sport reported, a new licensing deal has been signed with Fanatics, owner of collectibles brand Topps, which will produce stickers and trading cards for FIFA tournaments from 2031 onwards. This means the 2026 and 2030 World Cup sticker albums will be among the last produced by Panini, adding historical weight to the current playground craze.

What Lies Ahead

As World Cup fever intensifies, more Belgian schools may face the decision of whether to ban or regulate Panini stickers. The debate highlights a classic tension in education: between banning problematic behavior and using it as a teachable moment. With the tournament just days away, the sticker craze is unlikely to fade soon — and schools across Flanders will be watching closely to see which approach proves most effective.