FIFA Selects Avalanche for Blockchain Network to Engage Five Billion Fans

FIFA has chosen Avalanche to power its dedicated blockchain network for non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and digital fan engagement, as announced on May 22. This decision comes nearly a month after FIFA revealed its initial plans to launch a new blockchain network for its blockchain-based collectibles. The Avalanche network's scalability-focused infrastructure will support FIFA's over five billion fans worldwide, enabling unique digital collectibles and immersive fan experiences.

The selection of Avalanche was based on a thorough analysis of key factors including performance, security, transaction fees, customizability, and scalability. The network's Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatibility will facilitate smoother integration with decentralized wallets and applications. This move will allow FIFA to deliver digital collectibles and fan experiences powered by speed, scalability, and EVM compatibility.

As part of the rollout, FIFA will migrate its NFT marketplace and NFT collection, FIFA Collect, to the new Avalanche-powered FIFA Blockchain. This migration will enable users to connect to FIFA Collect via MetaMask or other EVM wallets that support WalletConnect. External Algorand-based wallets such as Pera and Defly will no longer be supported following the migration. Future plans and business cases are in the works but have not yet been publicly disclosed.

FIFA launched its NFT collection ahead of the 2023 Club World Cup in collaboration with blockchain firm Modex. In November 2024, FIFA partnered with blockchain gaming studio Mythical Games to launch FIFA Rivals, a free-to-play soccer game for iOS and Android. This strategic partnership with Avalanche underscores FIFA's commitment to embracing cutting-edge technology to engage with its global audience and enhance the digital collectibles experience for football fans worldwide.