World Cup Knockout Stage, Holiday Gift Ideas, and What's New in Sports Cards

While the Black Friday shopping event has ended, the holiday deals at most retailers are just beginning. This week we discuss the World Cup knockout stage, Christmas hobby gifts, the NFL playoff outlook, NBA and NHL conference leaders, and a round-up of the hobby's most coveted releases.

2022 WORLD CUP SOCCER

The 2022 World Cup is set to begin the knockout stage with the US Men's National Team facing off against the Netherlands. Christian Pulisic's first-half goal helped the Americans advance to the Round of 16 for the first time since 2014 with a 1-0 victory over Iran. In other early knockout round action, defending World Cup champion France will battle Poland, while Argentina and England will take on Australia and Senegal, respectively.

A pair of World Cup title contenders, Brazil and Spain, have also advanced to the Round of 16. Brazil will close out Group G action against Cameroon, while Spain will play Morocco in the knockout stage. The final Group G matchup has Serbia clashing with Switzerland.

Focusing on the world's top national teams, the 2021-22 Panini Mosaic Road to FIFA World Cup set offers cards done on chromium stock and filled with the biggest names from international soccer. Avid soccer collectors can chase Neymar, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappe cards in the Mosaic Road to FIFA World Cup set. The Mosaic parallels come with a distinct pattern, and two different autograph options highlight past and present greats.

FOOTBALL

The NFL playoff picture is quickly taking shape with five weeks left in the regular season. The Philadelphia Eagles (10-1) continue their quest for the top seed in the NFC but have the Minnesota Vikings (9-2) and Dallas Cowboys (8-3) nipping at their heels. In the AFC, the Kansas City Chiefs (9-2) have a one-game lead over the Buffalo Bills (8-3) and Miami Dolphins (8-3) for the No. 1 spot. However, four teams are just two games back, which promises some exciting matchups down the stretch.

NFL fans can collect premium black cards of Jalen Hurts, Justin Jefferson and Patrick Mahomes in the 2022 Panini Black Football set. This high-end set includes short-printed inserts and on-card autographs and introduces Iconic Impact Ink cards with signatures on trapped acetate. This year's Black Football is heavy on the latest NFL Draft class, and rookie patch autographs include jumbo swatches.

BASKETBALL

After six weeks of action, a pair of Eastern Conference heavyweights headline the NBA's top teams. The Boston Celtics (18-4) and the Milwaukee Bucks (15-5) are the early frontrunners for the top seed, while the surprising Cleveland Cavaliers (14-8) remain close behind. In the Western Conference, the Phoenix Suns (15-6) have a narrow lead over the Denver Nuggets (14-7) and the New Orleans Pelicans (13-8) for the No. 1 spot.

Serious NBA collectors can chase Jayson Tatum, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Nikola Jokic cards in the 2021-22 Panini Spectra Basketball set. The high-end brand includes opti-chrome and has premium-style thick cards. Spectra Basketball features an impressive parallel lineup that will appeal to all types of collectors and has a solid cast of short print inserts to chase.

HOCKEY

The Boston Bruins (19-3) and the New Jersey Devils (19-4) are the class of the Eastern Conference in the early stages of the NHL season. The Boston Bruins (15-5) are lurking nearby, hoping to make it a three-way race for the top seed. The Vegas Golden Knights (17-6-1) are atop the Western Conference but are followed closely by the Seattle Kraken (14-5-3), Dallas Stars (13-6-4), and Winnipeg Jets (14-6-1) for the top seed.

Die-hard NHL fans can chase David Pastrnak, Jesper Bratt, and Jack Eichel cards in the 2021-22 Upper Deck Series 1 Hockey set. The main focus of this popular trading card promotion is on the top stars, with a few young players mixed in. The cards continue to be done in foil with embossed highlights, and prize cards that can be redeemed for various rewards are randomly inserted.

CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS

The holiday season is upon us and shoppers can find great hobby deals at Midwest Cards, online or in-person. If you have a Star Wars fan on your list this year, check out 2022 Topps Star Wars Chrome Black. This set puts a different twist on metallic cards and focuses on some of the franchise's favorite characters and most prominent names. The cards feature a dark backdrop that requires looking at the background highlights to see the color and rainbow reflection.

The 2022 Panini Impeccable WWE Wrestling set is the perfect gift for members of the WWE Universe. A high-end debut collection with super-premium cards, Impeccable WWE Wrestling highlights champions and greats from multiple generations. On-card autographs are a major focus, and the set also includes metal cards with the WWE Logo line containing either an ounce of silver or a half-ounce of gold.

NEW & UPCOMING PRODUCT RELEASES

2022 Topps Stadium Club Baseball captures baseball and the drama that often comes with it through a photographer's lens. The base set contains 300 cards and features a minimalist design with several parallels, and collectors will find a mix of rookies, current stars, and some greats from the past. The set will be released in early December and has short-printed autograph chrome card inserts that come with their own Superfractors.

2022 Panini Prizm NASCAR Racing continues the brand's run around the track with colorful cards and many autographs. The base set celebrates the top drivers of past and present and features an assortment of parallels. Collectors can also chase six "ultra-rare" short print inserts. Prizm NASCAR Racing is slated to be released a few days before Christmas and takes a more thematic approach with Icons, Profiles, and Rides cards, which highlight cars.