FIFA is implementing Avalanche blockchain for ticketing at the 2026 World Cup, aiming to combat scalping and enhance fan engagement.
FIFA is utilizing Avalanche blockchain technology to revolutionize its ticketing system for the upcoming World Cup.
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, FIFA is implementing a novel ticketing strategy leveraging the Avalanche blockchain to tackle challenges like ticket scalping and fraud. This initiative is part of FIFA Collect, a digital platform aimed at enhancing fan engagement while mitigating issues prevalent in traditional ticket sales.
The new system operates on a custom Layer-1 blockchain, referred to as the FIFA blockchain, and introduces two key components: the Right-to-Buy (RTB) and the Right-to-Ticket (RTT). The RTB grants fans priority access to purchase specific tickets before they are available to the general public, offering a way to bypass the typical ticket buying frenzy that often leads to scalping.
Fans can acquire RTBs through FIFA Collect and trade them in secondary markets at their market value. When a fan uses an RTB, it converts into an RTT, which can then be used to buy an official match ticket through FIFA’s established ticketing process.
Dominic Carbonaro, head of the consumer enterprise division at Ava Labs, highlighted that this model aims to bring secondary sales under FIFA's control, reducing the role of external platforms that often profit from inflated ticket prices. He noted that this system is designed to provide fans with a more reliable purchasing experience, akin to situations where ticket sales are overwhelmed by bots.
So far, more than 100,000 RTBs have been issued, with the secondary market volume for RTTs exceeding $15 million. The combined volume of RTBs and RTTs has surpassed $25 million, demonstrating the significant potential of this blockchain application in a real-world context.
This initiative is not just about NFTs; it focuses on creating an infrastructure that seamlessly integrates blockchain technology into the ticketing experience without overwhelming users. Carbonaro emphasized that the verification and ownership of assets will be managed in the background, allowing fans to engage with the platform without needing to understand the underlying technology.
Moreover, this new approach enables FIFA to gain better insights into ticket purchases, as traditional ticket sales data is often managed by third-party platforms. With the RTB and RTT system, FIFA can more effectively track ticket transfers while maintaining user privacy by keeping personal information off the blockchain.
