How Web3 and NFTs Are Changing Sport Fan Experiences Forever

Blockchain-based Ticketing is Here To Stay

Football is the most beloved sport globally, one of the world’s most dynamic commercial ecosystems, and a cultural movement with over 5 billion fans. From multimillion-dollar broadcasting rights to sold-out stadiums and thriving fan cultures, football commands an audience and economic impact that few industries can rival.

Yet despite this scale, certain aspects of the football experience — particularly ticketing and fan engagement — remain inefficient, exclusionary, and ripe for disruption.

Today, Web3 technologies, such as NFTs, blockchain-based ticketing, and decentralized wallets, are transforming how fans purchase tickets, collect memorabilia, and engage with clubs. They address some of these longstanding challenges and open the door to a new era of football that is more secure, accessible, and rewarding for fans everywhere.

Let’s dive into how blockchain-based ticketing leads a charge in football toward a digital revolution — and what it means for fans, clubs, and the industry.

Football by the Numbers: A Global Phenomenon

Football’s scale is difficult to overstate these days. Few industries rival football in scale and intensity. Let’s go with the facts!

• The 2022 FIFA World Cup reached 5 billion people globally, with the final attracting 1.5 billion viewers!
• According to Deloitte, Europe’s top five football leagues (England, Spain, Italy, Germany, and France) generated over €15 billion in revenue in the 2021/22 season.
• Football fans represent over 40% of the world’s population, making it the most popular sport on Earth.

Despite this, many football fans face limited access to tickets, fraudulent marketplaces, and poor resale systems, particularly when attempting to attend international or high-demand matches.

Not just this, but the ticketing problem is still going strong, as football ticketing has long been plagued by:

• Scalping & fraud: Up to 12% of fans globally have reported being scammed when buying tickets online.
• Inefficiency: Centralized systems often create long wait times, random lotteries, and poor resale support.
• Lack of ownership: Traditional tickets expire or get lost. They don’t offer lasting proof of attendance like digital memorabilia does.

To sum up, fans have passion, clubs have demand — but the infrastructure in between is broken. Today, Web3 solutions like NFT ticketing offer an innovative fix.

Entering Web3: NFT Ticketing, Fan Ownership & Global Access

Long story short, Web3 offers a radically different approach, addressing these failures through decentralization, smart contracts, and digital ownership.

With wallets and platforms like Daffi One, sports fans will be able to:

✅ Buy NFT ticket packs, which may include:

• Direct match tickets
• “Right-to-buy” tokens for high-demand events
• Digital collectibles (like club art, historical moments)
• Loyalty rewards or merch discounts.

✅ Verify and store their tickets on-chain — no more risk of counterfeits.

✅ Trade or gift tickets on secondary markets with full transparency.

✅ Build a permanent digital identity of match attendance and fan activity.

And clubs benefit too! Through smart contracts, they earn royalties on resales, gain better insights into their global fanbase, and eliminate fraudulent ticket circulation.

The Data: Real and Growing Trend

Far from theory, NFT-based ticketing is already being piloted at global events. In 2018, UEFA successfully trialed blockchain mobile ticketing for the Super Cup, allowing fans to receive their tickets through a mobile app, with admissions handled entirely electronically by smartphone. While specific details about NFT-based ticketing for the 2022 UEFA Super Cup are not publicly documented, UEFA’s ongoing interest in digital ticketing solutions suggests continued exploration in this area.​

Next, in 2023, Formula 1’s ticket provider, Platinum Group, introduced NFT tickets for the Monaco Grand Prix and the remaining 16 races of the season. Minted on the Polygon blockchain, these tickets offered benefits such as enhanced security and loyalty rewards. They continued to provide utility to holders after the event, including hospitality benefits and future race discounts.

Moreover, the NFL partnered with Ticketmaster to offer limited edition NFTs to fans attending Super Bowl LVI. Each attendee received a complimentary, customized NFT featuring their unique section, row, and seat to commemorate gameday, providing a digital keepsake from their Super Bowl experience. ​

Deloitte’s 2023 Sports Industry Outlook discussed the potential of NFT tickets to unlock unique benefits for fans, such as access to real and virtual events with athletes, venue privileges, voting on team/club decisions, and exclusive access to unique merchandise. While it does not specify a projection for annual blockchain-based tickets, it highlights a growing interest and potential.

Sports-related NFTs have gained in popularity over the last few years. In February 2024, sports NFTs accounted for 659,097 transactions, generating $7.7 million in trading volume. The continued activity in sports-related NFTs suggests fans’ interest and potential for growth in this niche.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup — set to be the largest ever, with 48 teams playing across 16 cities in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico — represents the perfect opportunity to mainstream Web3 ticketing. Demand for tickets is expected to exceed supply, and traditional systems will struggle to accommodate security requirements and Identity verification at the time of purchase and access checkpoints.

Using blockchain-based ticketing, fans will gain transparent, secure access, organizers prevent scalping and can track all secondary sales and clubs can reward verified attendees with digital perks or future ticket priority. Moreover, fans will walk away not just with memories, but with collectible proof-of-attendance NFTs, forming part of a growing Web3 sports fan identity.

Why This Matters: Football’s Web3 Economy Is Just Beginning

Football clubs are increasingly behaving like global brands, and brands must embrace technology to thrive. As new platforms emerge, blockchain-based ticketing is set to become more widely used and provide benefits to sports fans everywhere.

You might be a die-hard club supporter in Manchester or a first-time World Cup viewer in Manila, and the very next ticket you buy might not just be a barcode, but a verifiable digital asset that allows you to interact with your favorite club like never before.

Daffi One is a Web3 solution provider offering digital ticketing and asset engagement solutions. Designed for users worldwide, it ensures that you can always participate, no matter where you are.

Using their Daffi One wallet, fans can purchase and store exclusive sporting event ticket packs with real perks like guaranteed access passes, rare commemorative NFTs minted for holders only, and a chance to win perks, from official merch to special discounts and VIP digital events.

Take control of your finances with DaffiOne Wallet and experience the change firsthand. The journey has just begun, and being part of the revolution is easier than ever. Learn more by visiting the website, and following the project on Twitter and LinkedIn.