FIFA Uses Avalanche Blockchain To Test 2026 World Cup Ticketing With Right-To-Buy And Right-To-Ticket

FIFA is using the Avalanche blockchain to test a new ticketing system for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with FIFA Collect described as the federation's digital collectibles and fan platform running on Avalanche and Modex.

“FIFA wanted Avalanche's blockchain to help curb World Cup ticket scalping”

@coindesk

The system is built on a customizable Avalanche Layer-1 blockchain known as the FIFA blockchain and revolves around two features for a designated number of tickets: a Right-to-Buy (RTB) and a Right-to-Ticket (RTT).

@coindesk

An RTB is a digital entitlement that gives fans priority access to purchase a specific ticket before it becomes publicly available, and once redeemed it converts into an RTT that can be used to purchase an official match ticket through FIFA's existing ticketing infrastructure.

CoinDesk reports that the goal is to move ticket resale activity into an environment controlled by FIFA rather than third-party marketplaces, as the system is designed to address frustrations including bots, ticket fraud and runaway secondary-market prices.

Ava Labs figures shared with CoinDesk say more than 100,000 RTBs have been issued to date, and more than 50,000 Club World Cup tickets have been distributed in bundles with RTBs.

CoinDesk also reports that secondary-market volume for RTTs has surpassed $15 million, while combined RTB and RTT volume has exceeded $25 million.

DiarioBitcoin

Dominic Carbonaro, who leads the consumer enterprise vertical at Ava Labs, said the project is less about NFTs and more about infrastructure, adding, "We want to deliver Web2 experiences with blockchain underneath."

Carbonaro also argued that the approach makes tickets verifiable, saying, "The tickets are now 100% verifiable onchain, so it reduces all types of fraud, fake secondary sales, etc.," while the actual match tickets remain issued through FIFA's existing ticketing infrastructure.

Separate coverage in DiarioBitcoin says FIFA will distribute a series of 100 limited NFTs this Friday, giving collectors the opportunity to win tickets to attend the 2026 World Cup final, with the launch described as taking place in two stages.

“A series of 100 limited NFTs will be distributed this Friday, with the opportunity for collectors to win tickets to attend the 2026 World Cup final”

DiarioBitcoin

DiarioBitcoin reports that the first stage releases 100 NFTs on December 15, and a second stage will issue another 900 digital collectibles on December 19 via OpenSea, while FIFA+ Collect is described as operating on the Algorand blockchain.

DiarioBitcoin adds that FIFA is expanding to Polygon starting with the second stage of the upcoming collection, while stating that it will continue to launch NFTs on Algorand through its own platform.

In Phemex’s coverage of the Avalanche partnership, AVAX was described as rising to $6,96 with a 2,91% advance over the last 24 hours, after FIFA confirmed that the system of entries, a loyalty program and digital collectibles for the 2026 World Cup will run in a customized Avalanche L1 chain.