With World Cup fever soon to wash over much of the world, Fred Vandermarliere and his Oliva team are poised to ride the pending wave with the release of the Melanio Serie V Gran Reserva Limitada Double Toro Soccer Edition.
Amid the sprawling Oliva booth at PCA 2026 in New Orleans, you’ll find a cigar box that is fashioned in the likeness of a soccer ball that opens to reveal 24 Double Toro (6 x 60) cigars. The cigars are evenly split between Melanio Natural and Maduro. Each cigar is dressed with a commemorative foot band – a subtle nod to the beloved global tournament that inspired the project.
While the packaging will entice collectors, the blend inside carries added appeal, as they have been aged for an additional year beyond the traditional Melanio releases. With only 5,000 soccer ball humidors produced, scarcity adds another layer to the experience, one that collectors will appreciate as much as cigar lovers.
Oliva’s operational roots stretch across continents, anchored in the United States (Miami) while tied to Belgium through its parent company VCF. The United States are among the hosting (and thus, participating) North American countries, and Belgium are one of the 48 countries that have qualified for the World Cup.
Destined to be a collector’s piece, the Oliva Melanio Serie V Gran Reserva Limitada Double Toro Soccer Edition will be best appreciated when the first kickoff takes place on June 11th, 2026.
