FIFA launches digital collectibles platform this month on Algorand Blockchain ⋆ ZyCrypto
   
FIFA is set to launch FIFA+ Collect, a digital platform enabling all soccer fans to collect and own soccer-themed digital non-fungible tokens, later this month on the Algorand blockchain. FIFA+ Collect will be available via the FIFA+ web and mobile application, which already streams live football matches, news and events.
According to this week’s press from FIFA, FIFA+ Collect will launch already loaded with some game collections. The platform will allow footballers and their fans to engage deeply with football and directly with each other and monetize content. The Football Association did not disclose access costs, but said the platform would be affordable, inclusive and accessible to all fans.
“FIFA+ Collect is powered by Algorand, the official blockchain platform of FIFA, and the technology of choice for over 2,000 global organizations, governments and digitally native decentralized finance applications. It is a low-cost, carbon-neutral blockchain available across multiple currencies and payment methods.”
FIFA said fandom was changing worldwide, with fans engaging with football in new and exciting ways.
With the FIFA+ Collect platform, fans can collect unique digital collectibles created from the best or favorite game moments from both men’s and women’s FIFA World Cup art and images. These will be displayed on the platform as NFTs. It is unclear whether the platform will allow footballers to monetize their NFTs directly to fans, but it is a very likely option based on the examples of many similar platforms.
   
Demand for NFTs is increasing. NFTs are also everywhere in football, with many footballers and clubs continuously signing deals involving the launch of football NFTs, the promotion of NFTs and fan tokens, and the trading of digital collectibles made from in-game actions.
Such digital collectibles could also be the future of contactless ticket sales in sports. Because soccer has millions of fans worldwide, such NFTs can also be crucial to the upcoming metaverse platforms. For its part, the organization said the forum would allow democratization of the opportunity to own part of the FIFA World Cup.
The platform couldn’t have come at a better time than now because the 2022 FIFA World Cup kicks off in Qatar on November 20. FIFA+ already features 100 of the greatest moments in FIFA World Cup history. These are likely to appear in the first moments to be launched with the platform.
Furthermore, the World Cup is the most watched football event in the world, with more than 3.57 billion people – or more than half of the world’s population watching 2018 FIFA World Cup tournaments. The stakes are thus very high for both players, fans and advertisers.
