FIFA has announced a major step in its digital fan experience strategy. In a move to elevate its blockchain-based offerings, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has partnered with Avalanche to launch a dedicated layer-1 (L1) blockchain tailored for digital collectibles and immersive fan engagement. The announcement was made on May 22, marking a significant upgrade for the global football body’s Web3 initiatives.
FIFA’s new blockchain will be developed on Avalanche’s high-performance infrastructure, chosen for its scalability, Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatibility, and cost efficiency. With over five billion fans worldwide, FIFA aims to deliver a seamless and interactive digital experience through its revamped platform.
Scalability and compatibility key to Avalanche selection
Francesco Abbate, CEO of Modex and FIFA Collect, emphasized that the selection of Avalanche followed an in-depth analysis of performance metrics. “The decision was based on a rigorous analysis of key factors including performance, security, transaction fees, customizability, and scalability,” Abbate said in a statement shared with Cointelegraph.
Avalanche’s AvaCloud, a tool supporting EVM compatibility, will enable FIFA’s blockchain to integrate easily with decentralized applications and popular crypto wallets like MetaMask, ensuring broader access and user flexibility.
Migration of FIFA collect underway
As part of the initiative, FIFA’s existing NFT marketplace and collection, FIFA Collect, will migrate to the newly launched Avalanche-powered blockchain. This migration signals a departure from the previous infrastructure based on Algorand.
Following the shift, external wallets such as Pera and Defly will no longer be supported. Users will instead connect through EVM-compatible wallets that support WalletConnect, including MetaMask. FIFA noted that additional business use cases and platform enhancements are in the pipeline but have yet to be publicly disclosed.
Building on previous blockchain engagements
This transition builds on FIFA’s earlier ventures into Web3. In late 2023, it partnered with Modex to launch its NFT collectibles ahead of the Club World Cup held in Saudi Arabia. In November 2024, the organization collaborated with blockchain gaming firm Mythical Games to launch FIFA Rivals, a free-to-play mobile football game for iOS and Android devices.
FIFA’s partnership with Avalanche reflects a broader commitment to exploring blockchain technologies as tools for global fan engagement, digital ownership, and new revenue streams.