The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has announced that it will migrate its FIFA Collect NFT platform from the Algorand blockchain to a newly created Ethereum-compatible network, called the FIFA Blockchain. The move, officially revealed on April 30th, is set to begin no earlier than May 20th. 

This major shift is aimed at improving performance, scalability, and opening the door to new web3 features, while bringing FIFA's digital assets closer to the broader Ethereum ecosystem.

FIFA Blockchain: A New Home for FIFA Collect

The newly launched FIFA Blockchain will be compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), making it accessible through popular crypto wallets such as MetaMask and other wallets that support WalletConnect. By adopting EVM standards, FIFA plans to make its digital platform more efficient and easier to access.

What FIFA Collect Users Need to Know

For existing users, the migration process will be automatic. NFTs currently stored within FIFA Collect's custodial wallet will be moved to the new FIFA Blockchain without any user intervention.

But those who previously exported their NFTs to external Algorand wallets such as Pera or Defly must re-import their digital assets into FIFA Collect before the migration date. FIFA confirmed that import tools will now reopen for a limited time. If users miss the deadline, they will need help from customer support to move their assets later.

After the migration, Algorand wallets will not be supported. Users will need to access their collections via EVM-compatible wallets, which include widely-used options like MetaMask.

Impact on USDC Balances and Listed NFTs

For now, users with existing USDC balances can spend their funds inside the platform until the migration occurs. After the migration, spending USDC on FIFA Collect will not be possible, although withdrawals will still be supported.

In terms of marketplace activity, collectibles listed for sale will automatically carry over to the new platform unless users manually delist them before the migration date. FIFA also said that the migration process will be free of charge for users, with no hidden fees.

Temporary Downtime During Migration

During the switch to the FIFA Blockchain, the platform will be down for about 12 hours. FIFA will notify users in advance with specific dates and times. The team advises users to plan ahead and complete any required transactions before the platform goes offline.

FIFA's Growing Web3 Strategy

No doubt, this migration is part of FIFA's broader web3 move, which has been expanding steadily over the past two years. In December 2023, FIFA launched an NFT collection in partnership with blockchain firm Modex. The collection, released just before the 2023 Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia, came with 100 exclusive NFTs, some of which offered fans a chance to secure tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. An additional 900 digital collectibles were minted on Polygon and sold via OpenSea.

In November 2024, FIFA partnered with blockchain gaming studio Mythical Games to announce FIFA Rivals, a free to play mobile soccer game featuring NFT elements. The pre-release of FIFA Rivals is set for May 2025, with the full game expected to launch in the summer. The game's CEO, John Linden, stated that FIFA Rivals could attract more than 100 million players globally, building on the success of Mythical Games' previous title, NFL Rivals.