FIFA stunned the sports world on May 22, 2025, by selecting Avalanche to power its own blockchain and ending its Algorand partnership. This set the stage for next-gen digital collectibles and fan engagement for over five billion football fans.
The new FIFA Blockchain, a custom Avalanche Layer-1, promises sub-second transactions, minimal fees, and seamless wallet integration, starting with the migration of FIFA Collect.
Francesco Abbate, CEO of Modex and FIFA Collect, added that the selection followed a rigorous review of scalability, security, fees, and infrastructure customization.
“FIFA’s decision to launch its L1 on Avalanche is a testament to our technology’s ability to support global-scale applications with speed, flexibility, and security,” said John Nahas, Chief Business Officer at Ava Labs.
FIFA’s NFT marketplace, FIFA Collect, will migrate from Algorand to the new Avalanche-powered network after May 20. Users are advised that Algorand-based wallets such as Pera and Defly will no longer be supported. Instead, fans can access FIFA Collect using MetaMask and other EVM-compatible wallets via WalletConnect.
FIFA’s transition to Avalanche follows its initial foray into blockchain when it released an NFT collection on Algorand ahead of the Qatar World Cup in 2022.
In 2021, the NBA’s Top Shot initiative with Dapper Labs demonstrated the viability of large-scale digital collectibles. However, FIFA’s decision to deploy a custom Layer-1 blockchain marks one of the most ambitious undertakings in the space.
FIFA’s move to establish its blockchain infrastructure aligns with a growing trend among traditional sports organizations turning to Web3 to deepen fan engagement and explore new revenue models.