At long last and amid considerable excited, the 2018 FIFA World Cup™  kicked off this morning as host Russia soundly defeated Saudi Arabia, 5-0. And in related news, Panini Instant, kicked off its own FIFA World Cup™ celebration with the 32-card Class of the Cup set that honors one standout player from each of the 32 teams in the tournament. The cards — which will be updated with FIFA World Cup™ action photography at the conclusion of each player’s first game — are available individually and as a set now on Panini Instant.

“Class of the Cup” will be featured in base versions as well as limited versions out of 10 and one, respectively. Throughout the tournament, Panini Instant also will be producing new cards featuring the  stars of each game, including some rare autograph versions.

Finally (and this is where things really get juicy), Panini Eternal will be delivering an 18-card Magnificent Moments set that showcases the greatest moments in FIFA World Cup™ history. Each of the 18 cards will be offered in base (limited to 25), Green (limited to 10) and Black 1/1 versions — and all three of those versions will include autographs. A new Magnificent Moments autograph card come out every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, beginning tomorrow (6/15/18). There will be an 18-card Magnificent Moments base set available as well.

Panini Eternal World Cup Preview