The Fantastic World of the Portuguese Sardine has just launched an exclusive edition inspired by the 2026 World Cup, available only during the competition at its Times Square store in New York. The initiative brings together the 48 participating national teams, transforming the iconic Portuguese sardine cans into pieces inspired by the world of football trading cards.

The novelty was highlighted at the inauguration of the Casa de Portugal, a space promoted by Turismo de Portugal and the Portuguese Football Federation, in Brooklyn, New York. The ceremony was attended by the Secretary of State for Tourism, Pedro Machado, and the Portuguese model Sara Sampaio, who posed with some of the cans created to mark the World Cup, associating themselves with an initiative that simultaneously celebrates Portuguese culture and one of the world’s biggest sporting events.

The idea stemmed from the unique ability of football to unite people from different cultures, geographies, and generations. Inspired by this global dimension, The Fantastic World of the Portuguese Sardine created a collection that crosses two deeply popular universes: the Portuguese canning tradition and the football culture that transcends borders.

This connection takes on special significance in a World Cup edition hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, precisely at a time when North America becomes the center of global attention. And it is in Times Square, one of the most visited places on the planet, that this collection finds its exclusive showcase for millions of visitors.

More than a themed edition, this collection is an original way to project Portugal to an international audience, using a universal language to tell a Portuguese story: that of the sardine, one of the most recognized symbols of national gastronomic identity.