Swiss Gambling Authority Probes FIFA's 2026 World Cup Blockchain Ticketing

FIFA is under preliminary investigation by Swiss gambling regulator Gespa concerning its blockchain-based "Right to Buy" tokens for the 2026 World Cup. These tokens, developed with blockchain firm Modex, grant fans the option to purchase tickets for specific matches and can be resold on secondary markets. Gespa is assessing whether these tokens constitute gambling under Swiss law, due to their speculative nature—especially when tokens are tied to teams qualifying for certain stages, potentially resulting in some holders not receiving tickets if their teams fail to advance. FIFA has generated significant revenue from these token sales, reportedly around $15 million, ahead of official ticket sales. The 2026 tournament, to be hosted in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, is expected to generate $11 billion for FIFA, highlighting the financial stakes involved. Gespa's director Manuel Richard emphasized that further investigation will determine if regulatory action is necessary, while FIFA has remained largely silent on the probe.