The situation, however incredible it may seem, is critical in Argentina. There are practically no stickers from the official World Cup album in any corner of the South American country, a situation that has caused fans to enter such despair that the government itself has had to intervene, meeting with representatives of the Panini brand and the kiosk federation. Faced with all of this, a question could not help but be asked at the press conference offered this Thursday by Lionel Scaloni.
In the pre-match friendly against Honduras, the 44-year-old strategist spoke to the media. Suddenly, the question came: "You are living a great moment and there seems to be a superficial issue, but in Argentina, it is a matter of State. And it is that the Panini album is sold out. How do you maintain your calm knowing that you are so popular? There are no figures or albums in Argentina. Do you collect Panini stickers?", a journalist asked, to the surprise of the coach.
Scaloni took the question with humor and revealed that he was not aware of anything: "My son does collect them. He must also be without stickers, I imagine. I didn't know they had run out," the coach said before highlighting Leo Messi's first appearance in Miami with the national team's jersey.
Why are there no World Cup stickers in Argentina?
The good present of their national team and the fact that we could be facing Lionel Messi's last World Cup has caused an uproar in Argentina that has rarely been seen before after the release of the official album of Qatar 2022, to the point that the stickers have practically been sold out completely.
For this reason, the government has had to intervene on behalf of a citizenry frustrated by not being able to complete their collection of stamps. Perhaps the least relevant problem in the South American country, but one that has thousands of people more upset than ever.
That is why this Tuesday, the Secretariat of Commerce of the Ministry of Economy summoned the Union of Kiosks of the Argentine Republic (UKRA) and representatives of Panini in order to find a solution.
According to the kiosk owners, the problem lies in the fact that the Italian brand favored other sales channels to market both the album and the sticker packs. Gas stations, delivery apps, supermarkets, and other companies were always at the forefront, so they no longer have any sales material.
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