FIFA’s Blockchain Tickets Under Swiss Scrutiny: Innovation Meets Regulation

In a bold move, FIFA unveiled its plan to issue NFT-based tickets for the 2026 World Cup in partnership with Get Protocol — a first in the tournament’s history. But what was hailed as a leap forward for ticketing transparency and anti-fraud measures is now facing serious regulatory pressure. Swiss authorities have launched a preliminary investigation to assess whether FIFA’s blockchain ticketing system crosses into regulated territory.
(Source: Journal du Coin, SwissInfo, Bloomberg)

A Revolutionary Ticketing Model, Now Questioned

FIFA’s approach assigns each ticket a unique digital token on blockchain, enabling buyers to prove authenticity and resell legitimately. The stated intention is to curb scalping, duplication, and black-market abuse. The organization claims full regulatory compliance and insists the system is purpose-built for transparency.
(Source: Journal du Coin)

Yet Swiss regulators are probing whether these tokens should be treated as financial instruments or even gambling products under domestic law. The question: does selling the “right to buy” a ticket constitute more than just a transaction?
(Source: SwissInfo)

Key Regulatory Friction Points

The FINMA oversight: Switzerland’s financial markets regulator is investigating whether FIFA required a license before issuing tokenized tickets.

Gespa’s domain: The Swiss gambling authority is probing whether the offering could fall under gambling rules — if tokens resemble wagers on outcomes or speculative instruments.
(Bloomberg confirms that Gespa is assessing whether FIFA’s sales via collect.fifa.com may violate gambling legislation.)
(SwissInfo)

The resale marketplace component adds complexity: token holders can trade on secondary platforms, blurring lines between collectible and financial asset.
(Decrypt)

Stakes & Implications

This investigation could reshape how major events adopt blockchain. For FIFA, it threatens the legality and scalability of its vision for digitized ticketing. A negative ruling may force changes in structure, halt certain sales, or expose the organization to fines or legal limits in Switzerland.

For the broader crypto and sports tech sectors, it raises urgent questions: when do tokenized products cross from utility into regulated territory? How will future collaborations be structured — with legal shells, licensing, or regulatory carveouts?

FIFA’s experiment, ambitious as it is, may become a case study: not just in tech innovation, but in navigating legal boundaries where sport, finance, and digital assets converge.

Sources: Journal du Coin, SwissInfo, Bloomberg
Author: Brian LECLERE