FIFA, the international governing body for soccer, is set to launch a new nonfungible token (NFT) collection in collaboration with blockchain firm Modex ahead of the 2023 Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia. The announcement on December 11 revealed that the inaugural collection of 100 NFTs, premiering on December 15, offers a unique opportunity to secure tickets to the FIFA World Cup 2026 final. An additional 900 digital collectibles will be issued on the Polygon network and OpenSea this month, featuring highlights from the ongoing tournament and digital versions of memorabilia.
The FIFA Club World Cup, bringing together seven top football teams, is scheduled to start in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on December 12. The NFTs will be available on FIFA’s dedicated platform, FIFA+ Collect, powered by Algorand.
FIFA+ Collect, launched in September 2022, has facilitated 11 NFT drops, resulting in 909,255 digital collectibles minted and 16,448 holders. The platform has recorded a total trading volume of $2.4 million across primary and secondary NFT markets. It’s worth noting that FIFA+ Collect Info cautions against interpreting mint volume without distinguishing between packs obtained for free in challenges and those purchased with USDC, as this distinction could impact accuracy.
Francesco Abbate, CEO of Modex, expressed enthusiasm for supporting FIFA’s goal of enhancing fan engagement through digital collectibles. The move signifies FIFA’s ongoing foray into the NFT space, utilizing blockchain technology to create novel experiences for soccer enthusiasts.
