2022 is shaping up to be an odd year for all things FIFA and soccer in general. Firstly it’s a World Cup year but this year we’ve seen no familiar summer kick off with the even moved to take place in November to allow the finals to take place in hose nation Qatar – the first time the event has been hosted in the Arab world. Secondly this is the final year of the familiar FIFA soccer game, with EA parting ways with FIFA to create their own game next year.
And with – it seems – all bets off for ‘business as usual’ so FIFA has announced its very own NFT platform for soccer-themed digital collectables ahead of the 2022 even kicking off.
The official FIFA+ Collect platform will launch later this month and will feature “affordable, inclusive and accessible” NFTs that will depict notable soccer moments, imagery as well as arts.
The tournament’s governing body FIFA hopes that as the highly anticipated World Cup kicks off in Qatar come late November, moments from the prestigious tournament can be converted into valuable digital collectables.
Turning sporting moments into digital collectables
FIFA’s Chief Business Officer Romy Gai, in a statement, “Just like sports memorabilia and stickers, this is an accessible opportunity for fans around the world to engage with their favourite players, moments and more on new platforms.”
The platform will run on the Algorand blockchain, proof-of-stake Ethereum and Solana alternative developed by Silvio Micali, an MIT professor. Algorand became FIFA’s official blockchain partner in May.
More details on the collections that will be included in FIFA+ Collect will be released soon, including teasers of the sort of NFTs that will be rolled out throughout the World Cup.
Beyond the World Cup, the NFT platform will also live on FIFA’s platform for live soccer games, news and other original content.
Isa Muhammad is a writer and video game journalist covering many aspects of entertainment media including the film industry. He's steadily writing his way to the sharp end of journalism and enjoys staying informed. If he's not reading, playing video games or catching up on his favourite TV series, then he's probably writing about them.
