Key Insights
- FIFA is launching an inaugural NFT collection of 1,000 items ahead of the Club World Cup, including 100 VIP 2026 World Cup final tickets.
- The NFTs will feature video highlights and digital memorabilia from the ongoing Qatar tournament, released on eco-friendly Polygon blockchain.
- It builds on FIFA’s web3 efforts since launching their FIFA+ Collect NFT platform in September, which has seen over 900k items traded already.
Jeddah – The glitzy Club World Cup kicks off this weekend in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, but the FĂ©dĂ©ration Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) is looking beyond the pitch by taking a dive into crypto collectibles.
On Sunday, soccer’s global governing body announced plans to unveil its first ever line of official non-fungible tokens (NFTs) at the tournament’s opening ceremonies.
A total of 1,000 digitally signed moments and artifacts will drop, including 100 ultra rare NFTs that come with VIP tickets to the 2026 World Cup Finals.
We want to give fans new ways to engage with big FIFA events long after the final whistle, said Romy Gai, FIFA’s Chief Business Officer.
Built on eco-friendly Polygon blockchain technology, the new NFTs will feature iconic video highlights as well as virtual versions of genuine World Cup memorabilia.
FIFA’s 1st NFT collection builds on 900k+ digital items
They expand on FIFA’s web3 efforts since launching their FIFA+ Collect platform for digital collectibles in September. Over 16,000 wallet holders have already amassed over 900,000 FIFA-branded NFTs.
Yet the Club World Cup collection represents their highest profile showcase to date.
Blockchain lets us take fandom into the future, said Francesco Abbate of FIFA tech partner Modex. Great memories on the pitch can now live forever on the blockchain.
However, soccer’s initial foray into crypto remains plagued by scams and excessive speculation. Over 80% of FIFA NFT trading occurs in untraceable secondary markets, enabling potential fraud.
As the digital gold rush continues, FIFA hopes improved transparency and ethics around official releases will help steer fans toward more trustworthy investments. While virtual versions can replicate tangible treasures, nothing compares to experiencing those World Cup Finals in person.
With 100 golden ticket NFTs now up for grabs, that virtual magic now carries very real stakes for some lucky collectors.