Topps MLS Inception taps into North American soccer growth

NEW YORK (November 24, 2025) The sports collectibles market is witnessing a major shift, with association football (soccer) cards emerging as the industry’s fastest-growing segment. Driven by record investment, global fandom, and the impending 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, the market is poised for unprecedented expansion. This perfect storm of conditions is being met by manufacturers with premium products designed to capture the high-end collector, including the debut of Topps MLS Inception.

Topps MLS Inception kicks off its debut season with a bold, high-end take on the beautiful game, bringing Inception’s signature style, on-card ink, and premium hits to Major League Soccer for the first time. The product is designed for the serious collector, with each box delivering seven cards, including one autograph, one relic, and one numbered parallel (#’d to 35 or less).

A guaranteed stunning Silver Signings on-card auto in every case highlights the product’s focus on elite, verifiable ink. The base set is thoughtfully layered into Legacy, Star Quality, and MLS Rising tiers that spotlight legends, stars, and 2025 rookies, each with foil parallels down to a 1-of-1 gold.

Relic and auto relic cards return in true Inception fashion, featuring jumbo player-worn or match-worn memorabilia and signatures from top names in the league. New for 2025, collectors can chase ultra-rare inserts like Galactic Autograph Patch cards, Dual Autograph Books, and Legendary Autograph Jumbo Relics, which are built to celebrate the biggest stars in MLS history. From Lionel Messi’s magic to tomorrow’s breakout rookies, MLS Inception offers a premium rip for collectors chasing bold design, elite names, and unforgettable hits.

The overall sports trading card market is forecasted to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of up to 19.1% through 2029, but the soccer segment is particularly strong, showing rapid growth fueled by its widespread global fan base. This surge is attracting investors who recognize cards as legitimate alternative assets.

Recent sales data from November 2025 illustrates the market’s activity across different tiers, proving that collector interest spans both high-end rookies and established international stars:

Rookie/Prospect Investment: A graded 2023 Topps Chrome MLS Orange Refractor /25 Obed Vargas PSA 9 MINT Rookie Auto RC recently sold for $87.65. Rookie cards are consistently noted as the segment dominating the overall sports card market.

Star Power: High-value cards featuring European legends and stars continue to drive demand, with sales noted for cards like a 2020-2021 Merlin UCL Erling Haaland Auto BGS 10.

The market shows a clear premium for high-graded cards, with a PSA 10 (Mint) grade potentially commanding a premium of up to 50% more compared to a PSA 9 (Near Mint) of the same card.

The single most significant factor currently driving the North American soccer card market is the countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Widely expected to be the largest sporting event in history, the tournament is projected to generate over $5 billion in short-term economic activity.

For the collectibles world, this is seen as “PRIME TIME” for soccer in the Western Hemisphere.

Increased Exposure: The World Cup will introduce millions of casual sports fans in North America to the highest level of international soccer, translating to increased demand for collectibles, as major sporting events traditionally fuel a surge in the market.

The Messi Effect: The arrival of Lionel Messi to MLS in 2023 served as a crucial lead-in, dramatically increasing the visibility and valuation of the league and its associated products.

Market Acceleration: The collectible market is already demonstrating anticipation. Grading volume for soccer cards has seen massive jumps (e.g., one major service reported a 306% increase in soccer card submissions over a single month in 2025). Collectors are already scouring for graded cards of international superstars like Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Junior in anticipation of the tournament.

The excitement around Topps MLS Inception is demonstrating market growth, and the generational excitement of the World Cup suggests that North America “futbol fever” is here.