Your Favorite Football Team Is Now In Metaverse

One of the most anticipated events in the football world is coming, FIFA 2022 will start on November 20. While waiting for the Championship, let’s think about how modern technology is changing the football industry.

We used to think that sport is an absolutely offline activity. We often use it to disconnect for a while. At the same time, step by step our lives are moving online. Probably, there is no single sphere that is not influenced by this action, including our hobbies and interests. And sport follows the path.

It seems that very soon it will be much easier to communicate with your favorite sports teams without leaving your house. To understand the process better, let’s take a closer look at what's going on.

What is Metaverse?

Generally speaking, Metaverse is a virtual reality, where users have a lot of real opportunities, such as purchasing various things, including estate property, making business, attending events, getting married, and just having fun. Each person is supposed to have their own avatar that would represent him/her in this virtual world.

There are several differences between Metaverse and games that create an online life experience. First of all, Metaverse life doesn’t stop when someone turns off the computer. Secondly, unlike separated video games Metaverse is united and diverse. Users can travel from one part to another, engaging in activities and communicating with each other.

What are fan tokens?

The fan token is a type of cryptocurrency that is used by sports organizations to provide additional opportunities for sports lovers. Fan tokens became an important step towards better communication between teams and their fans. By providing membership perks football teams (and sports teams in general) are able to increase the level of engagement of their fans. Now fans can do much more than just watch matches and games, they have a say in various voting processes and influence the life of their favorite teams and players.

It is well known that at the moment fan tokens are being used also to purchase merchandise and NFTs. This created an additional source of income for sports clubs. This experience has great potential in terms of Metaverse.

How would sport change in Metaverse?

For the first time in history, there is an instrument that provides an amazing level of fan engagement. The amount of users in Metaverse is increasing rapidly, which means it can bring even more tools.

For sports fans it is crucial to be present at main games and events. However, lately, it is getting difficult for a number of reasons. A lot of barriers appeared lately that prevent people from traveling around the world following the teams. Metaverse offers a solution. With the help of new technology, fans can follow the life of their favorite teams from the comfort of their homes. At the same time, the experience itself can be significantly extended. For example, users can get a better view from different perspectives or communicate with players and other fans after and during a match.

Here are several projects that are intensively working on developing the sports Metaverse.

LaLiga

LaLiga signed a contract with StadioPlus and Vegas City Limited to create a project in Decentraland, a virtual reality platform. LaLiga is a private sports association. It includes 20 clubs and SADs (public limited sports companies). StadioPlus is focused on helping the sports industry to connect to Web3. Vegas City Limited is specialized in metaverse and blockchain technology. The result of their collaboration is the appearance of LaLiga’s Intellectual and Industrial Property Rights in Decentaland. The Vegas City owns the largest sports zones in Decentraland, which would have LaLiga themed parcels. According to Stephen Ibbotson, the Head of Franchises and Licensing in LaLiga, this move is an essential part of innovations for the company, which is supposed to bring together more fans.

Zetly

Zetly is a blockchain sports fandom. Zetly is launching a project called “Sports Metaverse”. It is planned to have two main functions. First of all, with the help of this project clubs will be able to sell merchandise, issue tokens, and hold crowdfunding campaigns. Secondly, fans will get special NFTs that will open access to limited collections and play-to-earn games. And finally, it is planned to create 3D versions of the world’s most famous arenas. Fans will be able to attend these places, connect with each other and learn more about their favorite teams.

It is built on two blockchains: Flow and Ethereum. When a user buys land here, he/she gets a “fan cave”, a cozy space where they can display their NFTs. In the future this Metaverse will have 36 lands. The project offers a wide variety of opportunities for fans, including mini-games, sports experiences, and stadiums.

Problems associated with sport in Metaverse

Even though Metaverse provides an enormous amount of opportunities, it also raises some problems that are only waiting for solutions.

Number one problem is, undoubtedly, the Internet connection. The whole Metaverse experience is impossible if the connection is too slow or interrupted. It is also crucial to understand the ways people may use to interact within the Metaverse. For instance, can they use voice or just written text? The second problem is the technical equipment that people will use to connect to Metaverse.

There are also some regulatory challenges, such as employment, copyrights, digital asset management, etc. Probably, with the increase in user quantity and higher demands, developers will face more new challenges.

Get fan tokens on SimpleSwap

SimpleSwap is ready to support our customers’ love for the sport. As you know now, to follow your team, be engaged in fan activities, and have an influence on the team’s life, it is useful to hold some fan tokens. We are able to offer you a list of tokens, including:

1. AS Roma Fan Token (ASR)
2. FC Barcelona Fan Token (BAR)
   
   Barcelona FC is actively looking for opportunities to expand virtually with the help of NFT and Metaverse. 
3. Juventus Fan Token (JUV)
4. AC Milan Fan Token (ACM)
5. Manchester City Fan Token (CITY)
6. Paris Saint-Germain Fan Token (PSG)
   
   Paris Saint-Germain is preparing to launch a Metaverse project in collaboration with Jay Chou, mandopop superstar. 
7. Lazio Fan Token (LAZIO)
8. Santos FC Fan Token (SANTOS)
9. Atletico De Madrid Fan Token (ATM)

Not all of them are in Metaverse yet, but it seems to be a matter of time. However, it is already possible to use it for a greater experience.

Conclusion

Our lives are changing rapidly, and this includes every single part of them, sports as well. Now we got a chance to attend events sitting on the warm couch without losing the interactive part. The Metaverse is already influencing the sports industry a lot and it still has great potential for the future. It seems that we are standing at the beginning of a new era in this industry.

SimpleSwap reminds you that this article is provided for informational purposes only and does not provide investment advice. All purchases and cryptocurrency investments are your own responsibility.