Global football authority FIFA is pursuing a dual-blockchain strategy for its latest NFT drop commemorating the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup in Qatar. The organization plans to leverage both Polygon and its existing partner Algorand to maximize reach.
Keypoints
- FIFA is launching a collection of 1000 NFTs to commemorate the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup, with 100 rare NFTs on Algorand and 900 on Polygon
- The NFT drop is part of FIFA’s efforts to expand its presence in web3 while serving its existing community on Algorand
- The rare Algorand NFTs will offer holders the chance to win tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup Finals
- Polygon was chosen to reach a wider audience on Ethereum, but FIFA stated it remains committed to Algorand as well
- Both Algorand (ALGO) and Polygon (MATIC) have seen falling prices over the last 24 hours amid a broader crypto market downturn
On December 15th, FIFA will drop 100 “rare collectible” NFTs on Algorand’s FIFA+ Collect platform, its dedicated NFT marketplace launched earlier this year. These rare pieces will provide holders the opportunity to win tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup Finals, creating immense demand.
The remaining 900 NFTs from the collection will drop on Polygon four days later via OpenSea, the largest NFT marketplace on Ethereum. These will provide digital memorabilia for collectors without the same level of exclusivity. By tapping Polygon, FIFA hopes to bring its NFTs to a wider audience familiar with Ethereum’s ecosystem.
We want to ensure that everyone clearly understood yesterday’s announcement???? Two new drops were announced ✌️
1⃣st drop????Dec 15th, 2023, via the FIFA+ Connect platform on the Algorand network – 100 Collectibles
&
2⃣nd drop???? Dec 19th, 2023, via OpenSea on the Polygon network— FIFAPlusCollect (@FIFAPlusCollect) December 12, 2023
FIFA said the dual-chain approach aligns with its focus on serving users first and foremost. A spokesman stated the organization “remains vigilant on the progress of the existing chains and community” in determining its technology partnerships. For now, Algorand still plays a pivotal role.
The news comes on the heels of falling prices for both Algorand (ALGO) and Polygon (MATIC) amid a crypto market downturn. ALGO has shed 7.2% in the last 24 hours while MATIC is down 3.8%. However, both cryptocurrencies remain up substantially over the last six months having ridden recent waves in the market.
As the Web3 and NFT space matures, expect more traditional brands and entities like FIFA to leverage a multi-chain strategy. This provides the flexibility to engage with users across ecosystems while staying true to early-adopter communities on networks like Algorand. Although speculative, blockchain interoperability may one day render these complex decisions obsolete.
