FIFA Collect Migrates Its NFT Platform from Algorand to a Newly Developed EVM-Compatible Network

FIFA is shutting down its Algorand-powered NFT platform, FIFA Collect, and moving it to a newly-developed EVM-compatible network, kicking off the transition on May 20.

The global football organization is switching up its web3 ecosystem. The move to the EVM blockchain will bring better scalability, enhanced wallet compatibility, and improved functionality.

Crazy how no one’s talking about this. FIFA’s collect platform will be moving to FIFA blockchain, an EVM-compatible blockchain. In other words, FIFA just onboarded millions of users and didn’t even tweet about it.

FIFA Collect allows fans to buy, sell, and trade digital collectibles capturing iconic moments from football history.

While the development may seem technical, the change holds huge implications for users. To start, Algorand-native wallets such as Pera and Defly will no longer be supported. Instead, users must prepare to connect using MetaMask or other EVM-compatible wallets that support WalletConnect.

FIFA has assured its user base that assets will remain fully secure and accessible throughout and after the migration process. The new infrastructure was designed to support new experiences, enable wallet compatibility, and provide a stronger foundation for future innovation, FIFA explained in a migration FAQ.

As part of the transition, users who exported their NFTs must reimport them before the cutoff to ensure automatic inclusion. After migration, manual imports will require additional verification.

Additionally, while USDC balances can be spent until the migration date, they can only be withdrawn. It will no longer be used for purchases after the platform switches over to the new blockchain.

Algorand Partnership Comes to an End

This move also marks the end of FIFA’s year-long partnership with Algorand, which had been its official blockchain partner since May 2022. The collaboration saw Algorand provide a blockchain-supported wallet solution and help launch FIFA Collect later that year.

However, FIFA’s move away from Algorand highlights the increasing industry preference for EVM-compatible chains due to their flexibility and developer familiarity. The announcement had an immediate market impact, as Algorand’s native token ALGO dropped by 3%, falling to $0.2213 on Binance shortly after the news broke.

Although the exact reasons for the switch have not yet been disclosed, the crypto community sees it as a strategic move that will help position FIFA more competitively within the rapidly evolving NFT sector.

Implications for the NFT and Sports Fan Ecosystem

As blockchain technology matures, scalability, interoperability, and user accessibility are becoming critical metrics. By adopting an EVM-compatible chain, FIFA opens the door for deeper integrations and community development. It could potentially integrate cross-chain interoperability with other NFT ecosystems.

A major implication is the impact on the sports industry. As the governing body in football, integration with EVM-compatible chains will enable easier and faster minting of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) by FIFA.

For users and collectors, the immediate priority is preparing for the migration by transitioning to supported wallets and reimporting their assets. For FIFA, this marks a key milestone in transforming its digital presence.