Visa, the payments giant, is the official payment technology partner for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. The platform has unveiled its “Visa Masters of Movement” initiative, a hybrid fan experience with a pre-event NFT auction and an immersive activation for fans at this year’s World Cup event.
The initiative is a first of its kind anywhere in the world. The Visa Masters of Movement auction features digital art inspired by iconic goals from five great footballers: Jared Borgetti, Tim Cahill, Carli Lloyd, Michael Owen, and Maxi Rodriguez. The artworks have been minted into unique NFTs available on Crypto.com, the official cryptocurrency trading platform sponsor of this year’s World Cup.
The dynamic works of art were created by award-winning XK Studios using an algorithm that took famous gestures and turned them into digital artwork.
Fans who place the highest price for each NFT at the end of the auction will receive the NFT in their Crypto.com wallet. The winner will also receive a high-quality printable art file and autographed memorabilia from the renowned player featured in the NFT, as well as the NFT itself. All auction earnings will be donated by Visa to Street Child United, a humanitarian organization based in the UK with the aim of combating the widespread stigma that street children experience worldwide.
The experience will come to life on an interactive pitch at the FIFA Fan Festival™ in Doha, Qatar, later this month. Fans will be able to produce digital art at the event that is influenced by their own distinctive styles. In collaboration with Crypto.com, eligible fans will have the chance to mint this digital art into their own NFT.
Andrea Fairchild, senior vice president and head of sponsorships at Visa, stated,
“As FIFA World Cup 2022™ approaches, we want to celebrate football, art and technology through the lens of what makes the FIFA World Cup™ so special – wildly impassioned fans, legendary athletes and for a few short weeks, the ability to bring the world together in a uniquely connected way.”
Football lovers can place bids on the Visa Masters of Movement NFTs on Crypto.com starting today (12:00 GMT) and continuing through November 8 (9:00 GMT).
Steven Kalifowitz, Chief Marketing Officer at Crypto.com, stated,
“The FIFA World Cup™ is one of the most anticipated sporting events in the world, and we are incredibly excited to give fans a new way to engage with this epic event. We are thrilled to partner with Visa in bringing Visa Masters of Movement to life and offering fans the opportunity to create and collect the most unique collectibles at FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ that will live forever on the blockchain.”
At the event, fans can discover new ways Visa is facilitating the movement of money around the globe, featuring cutting-edge technology like crypto and other digital solutions that provide more people access to the global economy.
Visa has served as FIFA’s official payment service provider for 15 years. Visa intends to provide experiences that put people closer to the action as a global supporter of both men’s and women’s football, whether they are among the 1 million spectators expected in Qatar or the 5 billion viewers estimated globally for this year’s event.
Crypto.com reaches new heights
Apart from becoming the official partner for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Crypto.com has also crossed the 70 million user mark, up from 50 million users in May. It indicates the continued interest and potential of the cryptocurrency sector.
Crypto.com has also proven to be genuinely committed to sports. The FIFA partnership is not the first sport-related initiative by the company. Almost a year ago, Los Angeles’ famous Staples Center became Crypto.com Arena. Crypto.com Arena is home to many sports teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers, Clippers, Kings, and Sparks.