Switzerland’s gambling regulator Gespa has launched a preliminary investigation into FIFA’s blockchain-based ticketing program for the 2026 World Cup, following concerns that the initiative may involve gambling-like mechanics.
According to Bloomberg, Gespa Director Manuel Richard confirmed that the agency is assessing whether FIFA’s NFT ticketing model falls under Swiss gambling laws.
“Based on our initial internal review, we cannot rule out that the offering on collect.fifa.com may fall within the scope of gambling legislation,” Richard said. “Gespa will now gather additional facts to determine whether regulatory action is required.”
Background: NFT ‘Right to Buy’ Tokens
In 2023, FIFA launched Collect, a blockchain platform that offers “Right to Buy” tokens. These NFTs grant holders the guaranteed ability to purchase tickets for specific World Cup matches — even before the participating teams or match locations are finalized.
Critics argue that this model introduces speculative elements similar to gambling, as the value of these NFTs could fluctuate depending on the teams and matchups revealed later.
Regulatory Powers and Next Steps
Gespa has the authority to suspend activities of Swiss-based companies that violate national gaming regulations. For foreign or online-only entities, the regulator can request internet service providers in Switzerland to block access to their websites.
The regulator emphasized that this is a preliminary review, and no formal charges have been filed yet.
This development follows FIFA’s May 2025 partnership with Avalanche to develop its own Layer-1 blockchain infrastructure, further integrating Web3 technologies into its global operations.
