FIFA to Launch Custom Avalanche Blockchain for Digital Collectibles

FIFA has made a quiet but pretty significant change to its Web3 game plan. The global football body is dropping Algorand and moving its digital collectibles project, FIFA Collect, over to Avalanche. The move isn’t just a technical shuffle, it reflects FIFA’s changing view of what fans actually want from NFTs and how it plans to deliver them. The Avalanche blockchain gives FIFA a clean slate to rethink how fans collect, trade, and engage with digital football moments.

So What’s Changing?

FIFA Collect launched in 2022 on Algorand, just in time for the World Cup in Qatar. It was a relatively smooth rollout, with fans able to buy and trade NFT cards featuring highlights, players, and moments from the tournament. But now, FIFA is shutting the door on Algorand and rebooting the project with Avalanche.

Is this the biggest partnership in Web3 History?

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Avalanche will power a dedicated blockchain environment, called a subnet, just for FIFA. That subnet will serve as the new home for all current and future FIFA NFTs.

Why Avalanche?

There’s no official statement throwing shade at Algorand, but FIFA is clearly looking for something a little more flexible and accessible. Avalanche ticks some key boxes: fast transactions, low fees, and it works with the Ethereum Virtual Machine. That last part matters because it means FIFA’s NFT marketplace will now be compatible with mainstream wallets like MetaMask.

It also makes it easier for developers to build future features. So, whether FIFA is thinking about adding new collectible types, gamified elements, or interactive fan rewards, Avalanche gives it more room to experiment without breaking the experience.

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What Does This Mean for Fans?

If you already own a FIFA Collect NFT, you’ll need to prepare for a move. The plan is to migrate everything from Algorand over to Avalanche. That also means some wallet apps, like Pera and Defly, which are built specifically for Algorand, won’t work anymore.

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Going forward, you’ll be using wallets that connect through WalletConnect, which includes MetaMask and other EVM-compatible apps. FIFA has said it will release step-by-step instructions when the time comes, so users won’t be left guessing. But you might want to get familiar with MetaMask now if you aren’t already.

Bigger Picture: A Reset for FIFA’s Web3 Plans?

It’s hard not to read this as a soft reboot for FIFA’s entire NFT strategy. The first wave of digital collectibles in 2022 came and went without much long-term momentum. Now, by switching chains and hinting at “new business cases,” FIFA seems ready to try again, maybe with more than just digital trading cards.

There’s been no confirmation on what’s next, but Avalanche’s setup suggests that FIFA is looking beyond simple NFTs. The move opens the door to more interactive experiences, deeper fan engagement, and maybe even cross-platform collaborations with other apps in the Avalanche ecosystem.

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What Happened to Algorand?

Algorand, once branded as FIFA’s official blockchain partner, is out. The partnership isn’t getting a dramatic breakup post, but it’s clearly done. Algorand has had a rocky year with layoffs and changes in leadership, and this news won’t help. Still, the chain remains active in other sectors like DeFi and real-world asset tokenization.

Looking Ahead

This switch is more than a backend upgrade. It’s FIFA reshuffling its digital strategy and choosing a platform that’s more familiar to crypto users and more versatile for developers. Whether fans actually show up this time, and stick around, is the bigger question.

But if FIFA gets it right, this Avalanche partnership could finally turn FIFA Collect into something more than just another NFT marketplace.

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