FIFA, the global governing body for association football, has selected the Avalanche network to develop its own Layer-1 blockchain for its non-fungible token (NFT) platform, FIFA Collect.
The news was shared in a blog post published by Avalanche yesterday. The new FIFA Blockchain is a custom Layer 1 (L1) network built to support digital collectibles and enhance fan interaction on a global scale.
FIFA chose Avalanche for its ability to handle high transaction volumes, low delays, and full governance control. It also offers low fees and stability during high traffic periods.
This new blockchain will serve as the base for a range of digital products. The first step will be the migration of FIFA Collect, the organization’s official digital collectibles platform.
FIFA launched FIFA Collect in 2022 with the goal of offering soccer-themed digital collectibles. It allows fans to own and preserve key soccer moments on the blockchain. A limited drop in 2023, tied to the “World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023,” included 1,000 NFTs that sold out within 30 minutes.
In 2024, the Romanian Football Federation became the first to join FIFA Collect. This means fans were able to collect NFTs based on real match highlights from national teams.
FIFA Collect was not FIFA’s first move into Web3. In July 2024, FIFA filed a trademark application for “WORLD CUP 2026,” signaling its interest in cryptocurrencies and the metaverse.
In 2023, it partnered with Upland metaverse to bring the Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 into a virtual space. Earlier, in 2022, FIFA introduced a set of Web3 games linked to the World Cup Qatar 2022.
