2026 Topps Chrome MLS is here and much earlier than normal in the MLS season which is a good thing. Feels like not that long ago 2025 Topps Chrome MLS was coming out. The set format is in line with past years with one Big (Bird) exception. See what you can expect if you are getting involved this year in the review below.
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2026 Topps Chrome MLS Breakdown
Checklist – HERE
Print Run – ~2,750 Hobby cases (Search On Ebay)
~5,400 Mania Boxes (Search On Ebay)
~125,000 Blaster Boxes (Search On Ebay)
Soccer Cards HQ Review – What 2026 Topps Chrome MLS lacks in high profile rookies it makes up for in Sesame Street cards!!! That’s right Topps surprised us by putting Sesame Street (Search On Ebay) characters in this set. Non sport non TCG cards like Disney are going crazy right now so some people are excited at this surprise development. There are ~25 of the base version of each card in addition to the /5 Color Match parallels and the Superfractor. The Color Matches are a bit weird in that they didn’t really color match them all. With these being so hard to hit and the relative scarcity I am sure they will continue to do well and probably be even bigger chases than some Debut Patch Autos which is crazy.
Speaking of Debut Patch Autos (Search On Ebay) there are a few which will be huge chases is in 2026 Topps Chrome MLS and that is those for Son Heung-Min and Thomas Müller. Those 2 are obviously two well established global superstars that have collectors. I will be interested to see how these 2 cards do if they ever hit the open market and how they compare to say Dynasty 1/1 cards of those player from their European clubs. Robert Lewandowski and Antoine Griezmann did make it into the set but their Debut Patches will come in a later set. As for the Rookie Debut Patch Auto checklist there isn’t a huge chase like with Cavan Sullivan in 2025. We saw that card recently sell for over $300,000.
Topps really leaned into the club and country thing in 2026 Topps Chrome MLS. The MLS Country Patch Autographed Relics (Search On Ebay) being the biggest of those. They are all 1/1s. There aren’t any of the huge hobby names in that checklist so they may fly under the radar a little bit which will give true collectors a better chance to get them. The Summer Clash cards also highlight the country and I am guessing the Summer Clash was code for World Cup. The National Pairings Dual Autographs (Search On Ebay) are nice looking cards but some of them feature players that never played in the MLS which is quite confusing considering they could’ve easily chosen players from those countries that actually played in the MLS to use. I can accept Sesame Street characters that never played in the MLS, but I draw the line at actual players!
I want to also highlight the Dual auto checklist because it features one of the greatest pairings of all time. No not David Beckham and Lionel Messi or David Villa and Andrea Pirlo but the real GOATs Eddie Pope and Jeff Agoos! People often ask me who I support and the answer is DC United because it was the only team on TV when I was growing up. Lionel Messi wouldn’t stand a chance scoring against those early DC United teams! The Renaissance on-card auto are back and will be chases. The checklist is highlighted mostly by legends like Messi and Timo Werner.
Here are the base print runs for the case hit or harder sets
Anime ~75 (Search On Ebay)
Helix ~50 (Search On Ebay)
The Grail ~75 (Search On Ebay)
Pearlers ~110 (Search On Ebay)
Shadow Etch ~190 (Search On Ebay)
I think Topps knew that 2026 Topps Chrome MLS wasn’t going to be a very strong product based on the rookies and Debut Patches overall. They did a decent job of creating value out of nothing. They don’t want to lower box prices and production from year to year so they have to give breakers something to hype and chase. I would rather buy other boxes for $200, but at the same time I don’t expect this to crater especially while the big hits are still live. If you do get involved good luck and I hope you hit what you are chasing!
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