New “FIFA Blockchain” To Use Avalanche’s Customizable Subnet-Like Tech

Global football authority FIFA has announced a major new phase in its Web3 strategy, revealing a partnership with Avalanche to create a dedicated Layer-1 blockchain. This strategic move sees FIFA transitioning its blockchain operations from its previous partner, Algorand, to the Avalanche network, which was recently bolstered by its Avalanche9000 upgrade aimed at supporting enterprise-grade deployments.

According to an , FIFA will build a customizable Layer-1 blockchain leveraging Avalanche’s robust infrastructure. This platform, referred to internally as the “FIFA Blockchain,” is structured as a Layer-1 network, similar in concept to what Avalanche has previously described as a subnet. This dedicated blockchain is designed to offer the scalability and performance features tailored to FIFA’s evolving digital engagement plans.

John Nahas, Chief Business Officer at Ava Labs, stated that Avalanche is intended to support custom, high-performance blockchain solutions suitable for organizations with global-scale needs. FIFA did not reveal further details about the types of products or applications that will be launched on its new blockchain beyond its current NFT marketplace and digital collectibles offering.

FIFA first stepped into the blockchain arena by releasing an NFT collection on the Algorand network back in 2022. That initial launch coincided with the FIFA World Cup hosted in Qatar and marked the organization’s first major public-facing digital asset initiative.

More recently, in April 2025, FIFA had hinted at plans to migrate its blockchain infrastructure to an EVM-compatible network. Such a move would support wider interoperability with the extensive ecosystem of Ethereum-based platforms and tools, a feature Avalanche offers.

Additionally, the recently completed Avalanche9000 upgrade is intended to attract developers by enabling the creation of customizable, application-specific blockchains. FIFA’s use of the technology aligns with Avalanche’s goal to onboard major organizations by offering infrastructure that can be modified for specific use cases.

Currently, FIFA has not disclosed additional releases or digital products tied to its new blockchain. The football governing body operates a digital collectibles platform and a World Cup NFT collection. Whether new applications will emerge on the Avalanche-powered chain remains unconfirmed.