The free Panini World Cup sticker swap shop in Greater Manchester helping fans complete their collection

A free sticker swap club is being held in Greater Manchester twice a week throughout the World Cup to help football fans complete their collections. The club offers enthusiasts the opportunity to offload their duplicate Panini FIFA World Cup stickers and acquire the ones they need.

Collecting Panini FIFA World Cup stickers has become a global phenomenon since the hobby was first launched with the 1970 tournament in Mexico. This year's collection consists of 980 stickers across 48 teams, and it is estimated that without swapping and with plenty of luck, it would cost fans approximately £1,300 to complete.

Some of the most sought-after stickers are the elusive 1:1 Black stickers featuring Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lamine Yamal. Trading card companies have offered up to £150,000 and £113,321 for these rare cards.

With the World Cup final taking place on Sunday, July 19 at the New York-New Jersey Stadium, fans are keen to complete their collections. Sticker swap shops have become increasingly popular as the tournament progresses towards its conclusion.

The Entertainer has announced it will be opening its stores to Panini FIFA World Cup fans for an hour twice a week to allow them to swap stickers in a free and fun capacity. The stores at Manchester Arndale will be participating in special sessions held from 3:30pm to 4:30pm every Tuesday and Thursday. The sessions are open until July 16 and welcome anyone with authentic Panini FIFA World Cup stickers regardless of where they have been purchased.

Jordan Wingrave, Buyer at The Entertainer, said: "The FIFA World Cup always creates huge excitement among football fans and Panini stickers have become a special part of the tournament experience for families and collectors alike."