Switzerland’s gambling regulatory body, Gespa, has initiated a preliminary investigation into FIFA’s sale of blockchain-based digital assets. These tokens provide holders with a potential opportunity to purchase tickets for games during the 2026 World Cup.
According to a Bloomberg report on Monday, the agency is currently assessing whether these “Right to Buy” tokens, marketed by FIFA, fall under the purview of Swiss gambling laws. Manuel Richard, the director of Gespa, stated that the offering “could be considered relevant under regulations governing gambling.” He added that a deeper investigation is required to determine if any regulatory actions are necessary.
These tokens, created in collaboration with the blockchain technology company Modex Tech Ltd., are designed to allow their owners to acquire tickets for designated matches once ticket sales officially commence. Certain tokens are linked to specific national teams. For example, the “Right to Final: England” token, priced at $999, guarantees access to the final game, but only if the England team successfully qualifies for that match.
This structure has sparked debate due to its potential for speculative investment. The primary concern is that the majority of token holders will ultimately not receive tickets if their selected teams are eliminated before the final rounds. The Athletic reports that FIFA is estimated to have generated approximately $15 million through the sale of these tokens.
The 2026 World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, is projected to create $11 billion in revenue for FIFA.
This is a developing story.
This article was created with assistance from automated tools and verified by editor Jeffrey Albus before it was published.
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