FIFA, the world’s governing soccer body, has announced it will introduce an NFT platform for digital collectibles with soccer themes in the months leading up to the 2022 World Cup.
The platform, FIFA+ Collect, is set to launch later this month and will feature “affordable, inclusive, and accessible” NFTs that depict notable soccer moments, art, and imagery, according to FIFA. As the World Cup set to take place in Qatar in late November unfolds, moments from the marquee global soccer tournament may also be converted into digital collectibles.
FIFA+ Collect will run on the Algorand blockchain, a proof-of-stake Ethereum and Solana alternative developed by MIT professor Silvio Micali. In May, Algorand became FIFA’s official blockchain partner.
“Just like sports memorabilia and stickers, this is an accessible opportunity for fans around the world to engage with their favorite players, moments, and more on new platforms,” said FIFA’s Chief Business Officer Romy Gai.
Further details on what collections will be included in FIFA+ Collect’s launch will be released soon, as well as teasers of what types of NFTs will be rolled out over the course of the World Cup. The NFT platform will live on FIFA+, the organization’s platform for live soccer games, news, games, and original content.
Algorand made headlines earlier this year for acquiring digital music sharing service Napster, and for partnering with LimeWire which, once a peer-to-peer music sharing service itself, recently launched a music-centric NFT marketplace featuring the works of artists signed on Universal Music Group’s label.
In November, there will be more cryptocurrencies besides Algorand in Doha. Crypto.com announced in March that it would be the sole cryptocurrency exchange sponsor of the World Cup. The business, however, may be scaling back its ambitious plan for sports collaborations after reportedly canceling a $495 million sponsorship agreement with UEFA, the European Champions League, earlier this week.