In June 2025, the International Federation of Football concluded the migration of its NFT platform FIFA Collect from the Algorand blockchain $ALGO to #Avalanche . This is not just a technical upgrade, but a strategic shift to its own Web3 ecosystem. What does this mean for football fans, and what other blockchain projects does FIFA have in store for them?
The new blockchain system called Avalanche Subnet FIFA was introduced in May 2025. The #FIFA Collection platform allows users to buy and trade football moments based on NFC. It was launched on the eve of the 2023 Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia on Algorand. According to the FIFA Collect.Info platform, there are currently about 1,217,092 NFTs in circulation belonging to approximately 75,283 owners. A total of over 2.33 million transactions have been conducted on them for about $22.1 million.
FIFA's decision to create its own blockchain using Algorand can be explained by several reasons. The main ones are gaining FIFA control over the infrastructure, the blockchain's ability to serve more users, and the ability to connect with other systems.
Previously, Algorand offered cost-effective and environmentally friendly operations, but was quite isolated. Now FIFA controls the protocol level since it created its blockchain. This means that the organization can decide how to create assets, integrate games, and manage user interactions with its products without relying on third-party solutions.
Analysts emphasize that such a move is strategic not only for FIFA but for the entire sports #Web3 - it sets a new standard for scalable digital solutions for a million-strong fan base.
Why Avalanche: technical advantages and EVM compatibility
Although FIFA successfully created and sold NFTs on Algorand using the ASA standard, the infrastructure remained complex for the mass user. The project could not fully scale due to weak compatibility with external services, lack of DeFi integrations, and a limited pool of wallets and marketplaces.
The main limitation was the lack of support for Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), which made integration with popular wallets - MetaMask, WalletConnect, etc., impossible. This made entry for the mass user more complicated, especially in the context of global events with high loads. Meanwhile, Avalanche Subnets are EVM-compatible by default, allowing for simple and understandable interactions for millions of users.
The Subnet technology allows FIFA to create a separate, independent chain with high throughput (up to 6,500 transactions/sec), sub-second finality, low fees, and flexible governance rules. For the fan, this means that even during mass events - finals, broadcasts, or drops - the platform will not 'crash', will not lag, and will not require complicated technical support. Transactions are processed almost instantly, without delays and with minimal costs, and the interaction rules will easily adapt to the event.
Moreover, unlike Algorand, where FIFA had to adapt to the general terms of the platform, the Subnet architecture of Avalanche provided it with full protocol sovereignty. This means that FIFA now determines the rules for the chain's functioning, chooses validators, sets up smart contracts, and updates without relying on third-party solutions. Such flexibility allows for enhanced security policies, scalability without performance loss, and rapid adjustments to the infrastructure for global events.
This protocol flexibility is complemented by Snowman - a consensus mechanism that eliminates the possibility of chain splits and guarantees stable finality even in the case of manipulations. This enhances the security and integrity of fans' digital assets.
What has changed for fans: functional NFTs and easier access
On the updated FIFA Collect platform, fans can still buy and exchange the best moments of tournaments as NFTs (in particular, the Club World Cup and the upcoming World Cup). But now these digital objects have additional functionality: for example, the right to participate in exclusive drops, bonus gifts (such as Adidas jerseys or products from other partners), or the chance to win tickets to matches.
Among the innovations are collections with RTB mechanics, built-in fan challenges, and series of cards that can be exchanged for real prizes. All this moves NFTs from the category of souvenirs to assets with functionality and value in the real world.
According to a representative of Modex - the platform overseeing FIFA Collect, the focus is on the value that the fan can use, rather than simple collection.
Along with rethinking NFTs as functional assets, FIFA has also updated the technical shell to make interactions intuitive even for beginners. This is why the new version of the platform has a simpler UX - the user connects to the wallet in seconds, and transactions are processed instantly with minimal fees.
FIFA enters blockchain gaming: launch of the mobile game FIFA Rivals
Digital transformation is not limited to collectible assets - the next step was the integration of gaming scenarios that allow fans to interact with football in a new format. On June 12-13, the global launch of the mobile game FIFA Rivals took place - an arcade PvP/PvE game with elements of NFT collecting.
FIFA Rivals is not a typical football simulator. The game focuses on dynamic arcade gameplay with fantasy elements. Besides the classic fan experience, FIFA Rivals combines DeFi mechanics: users collect digital player cards as NFTs, form their own teams, participate in real-time matches, and can trade acquired assets. This ensures true ownership of in-game items that can be used outside of it.
And although the game is built on the Mythos chain (Polkadot $DOT ), the blockchain is integrated in the background - for the user, it is almost invisible. That is, users can trade items in the internal marketplace and obtain full digital ownership without any experience in Web3.
All this creates a hybrid profit format, where sports events begin to operate as economic triggers, similar to news in traditional finance. VentureBeat calls the game 'a combination of high dynamics with ownership in Web3', while reviewers on CCN note: the project avoids excessive hype, focusing on the real gaming experience.
The FUTBOL token and the shift to fan-driven ecosystems
In June, FIFA also launched the 0xFutbol platform on Avalanche, built around the fan token FUTBOL.
This token is used in prediction markets, quests, participation rewards, votes - giving fans real influence over the digital activities of clubs and platforms.
The 0xFútbol platform is a multi-layer Web3 hub, including several products: the football simulator MetaSoccer, the mini-game Wonderkid for Telegram with over 160,000 users, the phygital platform Ultras in collaboration with fan communities, and the upcoming FútbolPM service for monetizing predictions.
All these elements are united by the FUTBOL token, which has already completed its IDO (token sale on decentralized exchanges to raise funds for cryptocurrency projects) this month and raised $250,000. The token circulates in the ecosystem with a market capitalization of about $2 million, used in all gaming and social functions, and developers openly encourage its further integration by third-party platforms through the FutbolPad tool.
Among the partners are Protocol Labs, ConsenSys Mesh, Techstars, AWS Startups, and Microsoft Startups, emphasizing the project's ambition to reach a global fan base of football and turn it into a full-fledged digital participation economy.
The foundation for a global market for digital rights and digital participation
The gradual development of FIFA Blockchain demonstrates: Web3 in sports is not a trend, but a strategic direction with real mechanisms of action. Step by step, FIFA builds the infrastructure that expands the possibilities for fan interaction with sports and creates a new type of market - a market for digital rights. This is not just about NFT cards, but also about access to tickets, merchandise, in-game assets, and, later, broadcasting rights or participation in votes.
This is a transition from 'spectator' to 'participant with influence'. And this is not just a concept, but a real model that combines sports emotions with digital ownership. Fans gain the opportunity to own a piece of events and turn their interaction into active participation in shaping a new sports economy.
