FIFA’s ambitious digital ticketing plan for the 2026 World Cup has caught the eye of Swiss regulators. The gambling authority, Gespa, is now checking if FIFA’s “Right-to-Buy” (RTB) tokens follow local betting laws. This isn’t about any formal wrongdoing yet. Gespa is simply gathering facts to see if these digital items could be considered a form of gambling or a ticket option that depends on a future event.
Understanding “Right-to-Buy” Tokens
So, what exactly are these RTB tokens? FIFA says they are special digital tokens, known as NFTs. These NFTs give their owners a limited chance to buy game tickets. They aren’t actual tickets themselves. Instead, they unlock the ability to purchase a ticket at its original price. But there’s a big condition: the chosen team must qualify for a specific part of the tournament. If a team doesn’t make it, that special buying right might not be used.
FIFA first tested this system in 2024 for the ConIFA World Cup final, offering 1,000 tokens to fans. RTBs linked to specific teams only become active if that team advances. Fans can also trade these RTBs on FIFA’s own secondary market, which is managed by their Web3 partner, Modex.
Why Regulators Are Watching
Manuel Richard, who leads Gespa, told Bloomberg that his agency is “gathering information to determine if any action is required.” He made it clear there are no official complaints or suspicions.
However, the tokens for the 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, are already on sale. Prices range from $299 to $999. The cost depends on the team. Popular teams like Argentina, Brazil, and England are at the higher end. Teams less likely to reach the final sell for less. This pricing model, tied to a team’s chances, raises questions. It looks a lot like how sports betting odds work.
Meeting Ticket Demand and Embracing Digital
FIFA created RTBs to deal with the huge demand for World Cup tickets. For example, in Qatar 2022, there were 23 million requests for only 3.4 million tickets. That’s nearly seven requests for every one ticket.
FIFA hasn’t commented on the Swiss investigation. Still, this isn’t the first time their use of blockchain technology has caused a stir. Since 2022, FIFA has been investing in digital collectibles and Web3 experiences. That year, they launched “FIFA Collect” on the Algorand blockchain. This let fans buy NFTs of memorable moments and other collectibles.
In 2023, before the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia, FIFA and Modex released another 1,000 NFTs. One hundred of these offered a chance to win tickets to the 2026 final. The other 900 were extra collectibles made on Polygon. Then, in 2024, FIFA entered the Web3 video game world with “FIFA Rivals.” This free mobile game, made with Mythical Games, lets players manage clubs, compete, and trade NFT cards on the Mythos blockchain.
By May 2025, FIFA moved its NFT system from Algorand to Avalanche. They chose Avalanche’s own Layer 1 network for better growth and control. Francesco Abbate, CEO of Modex and FIFA Collect, noted that the AvaCloud system helps connect with Web3 wallets and apps that work with the Ethereum Virtual Machine.
The Digital Future of Football
With over five billion fans, FIFA wants to use blockchain’s power to manage its digital assets. This also helps handle huge traffic spikes during major events like the World Cup. Avalanche’s “subnets” let FIFA create custom networks that can handle demand during tournaments.
Gespa hasn’t yet decided if the “Right-to-Buy” tokens count as gambling. But this situation highlights a growing challenge: balancing new digital ideas with existing rules. This issue will remain important as football moves further into a more digital and decentralized future.