FIFA launch their own digital collectibles with ‘FIFA+ Collect’

FIFA is excited to announce ‘FIFA+ Collect,’ launching on FIFA+ later this month that will provide football fans around the world with the chance to affordably own unique digital collectibles – from the greatest game moments to the most iconic FIFA World Cup™ and FIFA Women’s World Cup™ art and imagery.

“Fandom is changing and football fans around the world engage with the game in new and exciting ways,” said FIFA Chief Business Officer Romy Gai.

“This exciting announcement makes FIFA collectibles available to any football fan, democratising the ability to own a part of the FIFA World Cup. Just like sports memorabilia and stickers, this is an accessible opportunity for fans around the world to engage with their favourite players, moments and more on new platforms.”

Launching later this month, FIFA+ Collect will release a range of initial collections and details of upcoming exclusive and limited-edition collections to be released soon. FIFA+ Collect will be available on FIFA+, the world-class digital platform created to connect football fans across the globe more deeply with the game they love. FIFA+ provides access to live football matches from every corner of the world, interactive games, news, tournament information, and unrivalled Original content – delivering truly global storytelling around the men’s and women’s game.

From launch, FIFA+ Collect will be available across all web and mobile devices and in three language editions (English, French, and Spanish), with several additional languages to follow. FIFA+ Collect is powered by Algorand, the official blockchain platform of FIFA and the technology of choice for over 2,000 global organisations, governments and digital-native decentralised finance applications.

It is a low-cost, carbon neutral blockchain accessible via multiple currencies and payment methods. “FIFA’s platform – via a truly decentralised and scalable public blockchain – is the first tangible representation of the technical partnership recently announced between FIFA and Algorand,” said W. Sean Ford, interim CEO of Algorand. “The commitment FIFA has made to bridge to Web3 enabled by Algorand, is a testament to their innovative spirit and desire to directly and seamlessly engage with football fans around the world.”

CSM enter partnership with World Netball

Global integrated marketing agency CSM Sport & Entertainment (CSM) has entered into a partnership with World Netball that will see the agency lead on sponsorship sales for the upcoming Netball World Cup in 2023.

Following the successful Netball World Cup 2019, which was hosted in Liverpool, (UK), the tournament is predicted to reach even greater heights next year when it arrives in Cape Town, South Africa. The tournament will be held in the International Convention Centre in the heart of the iconic city.  Cape Town is widely renowned for hosting some of the world’s biggest events, including the Rugby World Cup, FIFA Men’s World Cup and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. This is the first time the Netball World Cup will be held in the continent of Africa and anticipation is already building ahead of the next instalment of netball’s showpiece event.

CSM’s role will be to identify and secure a broad range of partners for the 60-game tournament, which takes place from 28 July – 6 August and will feature 16 teams from across the world battling it out for the right to be crowned World Champions. 

This follows on from the strategic work CSM completed on behalf of World Netball last year, which included the development of a new global commercial strategy for the sport’s worldwide governing body, alongside an updated marketing strategy and a bold rebrand. 

Charlie McEwen, CEO of Special Projects, Rights, said: “We are extremely excited to be working with World Netball on the Netball World Cup 2023. It’s a tournament that will no doubt be the must-see sporting event in South Africa in 2023, providing an opportunity for brand partners to inspire the next generation and leave a positive legacy across local communities. We look forward to getting started.”

Clare Briegal, CEO of World Netball said: “We are delighted to be partnering with CSM, to build on the success of previous editions of the Netball World Cup and to help us develop strong and lasting commercial partnerships. We worked closely with CSM on our new commercial strategy, marketing strategy and rebrand, and we know we can rely on them to help achieve our commercial goals for this tournament. 

“They have a wealth of experience working on event sponsorship in the South African market.  We look forward to working together with them to create an unforgettable Netball World Cup and to utilise this event to help World Netball achieve its mission to expand netball’s worldwide reach and impact.”

Tiger.Trade announce Conor McGregor as partner

Tiger.Trade, the Swiss-regulated retail-trading ecosystem, announced that Conor McGregor, Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight and lightweight double-champion, has joined the company as an Ambassador as Tiger.Trade takes on new international markets. As a new partner, McGregor will drive awareness for the Tiger.Trade brand as the company rapidly expands its fintech solutions aimed at seasoned professionals and casual retail customers.

“Conor McGregor is exactly the person we want in our corner as we strive to lift our worldwide customers to new heights,” says Viktor Mangazeev, founder of Tiger.Trade. “Trading, particularly on bear markets, as the global economy experiences shock waves and bouts of extreme volatility, requires dedication, passion, and courage – all the qualities of this international MMA icon.”

“I’m always looking for partners and collaborators who represent the cutting-edge technology, the latest and greatest in what they do. When it comes to global finance, you need a winner’s mindset and Tiger.Trade has just that,” said McGregor. “It’s about rising to a challenge. They are real tigers, and I’m thrilled to work with them.”

In 2015, Tiger.Trade launched its headliner product. Today, more than 175,000 high-volume professional traders trust the company, with an average trading volume on the platform exceeding $6B monthly. The comprehensive Tiger.Trade platform provides tradersaccess to various financial instruments within a single workspace. Users get a robust market analysis toolkit and can handle stocks, futures, options and digital currencies – powered through the unified Tiger.Trade ecosystem.

Leveraging this extensive userbase of professional and retail-level traders, Tiger.Trade launched the industry’s first copy-trading app with blockchain-verified trading performance. Copy-trading is a form of trading that allows novice users to automatically andsecurely copy more experienced traders. Users choose and follow traders, and Tiger.Trade Copy automatically repeats each transaction, generating potential earnings for subscribers. The app rewards traders and charges subscribers a small fee only for copying profitable trades.

“Trading has never been more accessible, creating opportunities for everyone which previously didn’t exist,” said McGregor.“Tiger.Trade came up with an ingenious solution to help users roll into the world of trading.”

Is this the future of Poker Viewership?

The future of poker viewership puts fans front and center, enabling them to watch, play, and win. 

PokerGO® and INTHEGAME partnered during the World Series of Poker to deliver first-screen viewer engagement on PokerGO.com. 

If you’ve ever watched High Stakes Poker or any of the other popular poker shows available on PokerGO.com, chances are that, aside from learning a few tips or tricks, you’ve had an opinion on how to play certain hands or attempted to predict the outcome of a bluff. Utilizing INTHEGAME’s unique technology together with PokerGO’s premier content, audience members were delivered next-gen interactive viewing that they took to immediately. 

“We saw great engagement by our viewers,” said Dan Gati, Executive Producer of PokerGO. “INTHEGAME is an important tool in our comprehensive strategy to engage viewers and drive viewership. It also offers new branding, advertising, and e-commerce opportunities.”

Yaron Kottler, CSO at INTHEGAME: “We are excited to partner with PokerGO to deliver first-screen engagement and monetization. The media industry is discovering that there are new ways to enhance subscription and ad supported models, while INTHEGAME offers a golden opportunity for broadcasters and rights holders to engage viewers and monetize. Simply put, INTHEGAME is the third way to monetize video content.”

NBA and Sorare announce partnership and launch of NFT Fantasy Game

National Basketball Association (NBA), National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) and Sorare today announced a multiyear partnership that makes Sorare the Official NFT Fantasy Partner of the NBA. Sorare will launch the first officially licensed, free-to-play digital collectible-based fantasy basketball game, which will be released this fall for the NBA’s 2022-23 season.

The game will provide fans a new opportunity to interact with the league and compete through a unique fantasy gaming experience that offers users the ability to create a lineup of NFT-based digital collectibles representing their favorite players and teams to earn points based on the real-life performance of NBA players. As part of the partnership, Sorare will have the rights to utilize official NBA league and team logos across its products.

“Our partnership with Sorare will give NBA fans an entirely new way to engage with our teams and players,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “With Sorare’s emerging NFT fantasy platform, we see significant opportunities to broaden our community of fans and grow NBA basketball around the world.”

https://twitter.com/Sorare/status/1567481971953045512

“Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world and we are excited to bring fans even closer to their favorite teams and players through Sorare: NBA,” said Nicholas Julia, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Sorare. “The NBA has been at the forefront of digital experiences and collectibles and our game gives basketball fans the ultimate sports entertainment experience, where they can play like a general manager, own their game, and foster real-world connections.”

“Sorare has built an innovative gaming experience that creates a whole new way for fans worldwide to interact with and learn more about our players,” said Tamika Tremaglio, NBPA Executive Director. “We are very excited about this partnership and the effect Sorare will have on the growth of the players and the game globally.”

The new gameplay experience builds upon Sorare’s two million registered users across 185 countries, including markets across Europe and Asia where the company is seeing rapid growth in its soccer game. The partnership marks Sorare’s third with a U.S. sports league, cementing the company’s expansion in the U.S.

The Sorare: NBA free-to-play fantasy game leveraging collectibles backed by non-fungible technology will launch this fall. To sign up for the waiting list, visit sorare.com/NBA.

Manchester United announce Thereabody as new partner

Manchester United and global wellness technology leader, Therabody have deepened their relationship by becoming global partners in a multi-year agreement.

The partnership will expand Manchester United’s use of Therabody products and solutions as part of the training and recovery regimes of both the men’s and women’s teams – and showcase their benefits to the club’s global fan base.

Therabody is pioneering the future of recovery and self-care through its ecosystem of solutions that help people feel better, move better, and live healthier lives. Its products are backed by science and bring previously inaccessible technology to everybody.

Therabody’s devices help United’s players meet the physical demands of a sport that involves the use of every muscle in the body, from your brain to your feet; research shows that players cover anywhere from 8,000 to 10,000 metres or more in a 90-minute match. Matches are long and fast-paced, requiring constant running and short sprints during active play. Because of this type of activity, proper warmup and cool down is imperative to attaining full recovery and preventing injury.

Manchester United will have access to Theraguns in their training facilities to help improve their athletic performance and prevent injury during practices and matches. Football provides cardiovascular and muscular fitness, but the majority of the work is done by the legs. The team’s access to Therabody’s pneumatic compressions device range, including RecoveryAir’s JetBoots, in the training rooms and on all away trips will be game-changing for their recovery; the devices’ fully wireless design makes it easier and more convenient to relax and recover from anywhere, even fitting in a carry-on suitcase. 

Therabody’s ecosystem of wellness solutions including Theragun, the world’s first handheld percussive massage therapy device, RecoveryAir pneumatic compression boots, and Wave Series vibration therapy rollers have been integrated into Manchester United’s first team players’ medical, training, and recovery process for several years, most recently on the Club’s 2022 pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia.

As part of the global partnership, players, and training staff will participate in education sessions with performance and wellness experts from Therabody University, the company’s educational division. Working with United’s medical team, Therabody experts will develop specific protocols to give players the knowledge to optimise their use of Therabody’s devices, showing how habitual use can assist in accelerating recovery, preventing injuries, and improving overall athletic performance. 

Victoria Timpson, Manchester United’s CEO of Alliances and Partnerships, said: “By gaining access to Therabody’s tried-and-tested range of scientifically backed products and expertise, this partnership will support our players and staff in the pursuit of success on the pitch.

“The partnership also aims to give United’s global audience access to the same in-depth performance education so they too can easily take control of their training and recovery in the same way as their favourite players, through the use of Therabody products.”

Dr. Jason Wersland, Founder and Chief Wellness Officer of Therabody, said: “Manchester United has been at the forefront of utilising our technology to assist with training and recovery for several years and this partnership is a natural extension of our relationship. Educating their players, staff, and passionate global fanbase on the importance of ownership in self-care is paramount to Therabody’s mission. We are proud to work with the most successful club in British football, whose values of innovation and determination, as well as their drive to be a world leader, align perfectly with our own.”

Manchester United joins more than 250 professional athletes, sports teams, celebrities, elite trainers and medical practitioners globally by using Therabody’s ecosystem of industry-leading devices. 

Scuderia AlphaTauri announce partnership with GMG (Dubai)

Scuderia AlphaTauri is delighted to announce GMG (Dubai) Limited as Official Partner, starting from the 2022 Italian Grand Prix in Monza.

GMG (Dubai) Limited, regulated by the DFSA (Dubai Financial Services Authority) is an Inter-dealer brokerage house established in 2009 in DIFC, the fast-emerging financial epicentre of the Middle East. GMG has grown rapidly over the years through a relentless focus on Options, Futures, Derivatives and Bonds in MENA, GCC and Emerging Markets including Sub-Saharan, North and South Africa, C3 (Czech, Poland & Hungary) and Russia, becoming one of the most respected and distinguished inter-dealer brokerage houses in the region.

“Speed is synonymous with Formula One, and now the sport is moving faster than ever before. The addition of GMG to our partnership network is a logical and natural fit for Scuderia AlphaTauri, as we are both challengers competing on a global stage where the only limiting factor is the pace of innovation,” said Franz Tost, Team Principal of Scuderia AlphaTauri. “We are thrilled to welcome GMG to the team and look forward to a strong cooperation between our organisations.”

Marco Saviozzi, CEO of GMG (Dubai) Limited, remarked: “Three primary characteristics underpin everything we do here at GMG: quality, speed and precision. All three are as important in the fast-paced environment in which we work as they are in Formula 1, where split-second decisions and flawless execution are crucial in determining the final result. The financial markets, like F1, have historically been dominated by a few big teams. GMG prides itself on currently being the Best of the Rest. I believe the absolute desire to attain number one status through drive, determination and sheer force of hard work can put both GMG and Scuderia AlphaTauri in their rightful place – on the top step of the podium. It’s the mutual desire to succeed that I believe will make this partnership a special one.” 

DAZN acquires rights to Primera Division Profesional de Futbol Femenino

DAZN has acquired the global rights to Spain’s top women’s football competition Primera División Profesional de Fútbol Femenino for the next five seasons.

The deal adds to DAZN’s women’s football portfolio, which includes the global rights to the UEFA Women’s Champions League, and further strengthens the platform’s commitment to raising the profile of women’s football around the world.

“We couldn’t be prouder to build on our commitment to increase the visibility of women’s football by becoming the new global broadcaster for LPFF,” said Shay Segev, chief executive of DAZN Group.

“We want to make the players, coaches and clubs household names and an inspiration for the next generation of footballers and fans around the world.” 

LaLiga and Galaxy Racer team-up in joint venture aimed at taking over MENA region

LaLiga, Spain’s top-flight football competition, and Galaxy Racer (GXR), the Dubai-based transmedia multinational, have signed a Letter of Intent paving the way for the formation of a 15-year Joint Venture (JV) which will transform the sport league’s brand presence in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
region and Indian subcontinent.

GXR, founded in 2019 by Group CEO Paul Roy, is the largest esports, gaming and lifestyle organisation in the world with a presence in the MENA region, North America, Southeast Asia, South Asia and Europe.

The JV positions GXR as LaLiga’s local partner in the MENA market and Indian subcontinent, setting up a historic first for the world of sports rights in the territories which is projected to yield over €3 billion in revenue.

Following the signing of the Letter of Intent, the parties entered an exclusive period to conclude contract details and the establishment of the JV. As agreed in the Letter of Intent, LaLiga and GXR will each hold a 50% stake in the new JV.

The JV will offer LaLiga new avenues and opportunities to increase brand presence across a key target region that is one of the youngest on the planet with more than 1.3 billion people aged under 30.

In addition, the Joint Venture will act as the media rights agency for the broadcast and media rights for the MENA and Indian subcontinent.

The deal provides LaLiga an innovative pathway to share its intellectual property (IP) through a local partner already offering considerable market reach – GXR has over 500 million followers worldwide – and a platform for growth that leverages expertise in six key verticals: licensing, content creation, esports, influencer/talent management, merchandising and music.

Paul Roy, CEO & Founder of Galaxy Racer said: “The LaLiga brand is powerful, but its potential remains untapped amongst Millennials and GenZ in the MENA region and Indian subcontinent.

“Our opportunity is to connect with a younger audience in a way that resonates with them. Galaxy Racer has a market reach that will help unlock that potential and elevate LaLiga to an aspirational brand for target audiences in the region.”

LaLiga Executive Director Oscar Mayo added: “With the market set to enter a new era of growth, this is the right moment to take our business in the region to the next level and attract the next generation of younger sport fans to our competition.

“This historic partnership is set to boost the popularity of LaLiga and football in MENA and the Indian subcontinent. With Galaxy Racer’s extensive experience in the region as one of the world’s largest transmedia powerhouses we believe they are the ideal partner to help us reach a fresh new audience and unlock the true potential of LaLiga in the region.

“Partnering with Galaxy Racer is a major milestone in our international expansion strategy,” added Maite Ventura, LaLiga’s managing director for the Middle East and North Africa, “This agreement ensures not only a bright future for football in MENA and the Indian subcontinent, but also for LaLiga and our clubs.

“Success for us is seeing more of the younger crowd playing and enjoying the game, we want to tap into the hearts and minds of the millennials and GenZ. With Galaxy Racer’s expertise in the market, we will be able to truly build fan loyalty and position LaLiga as a top-of-mind brand for football and lifestyle.”

The deal will help LaLiga to speak to younger audiences meaningfully, through content creation and a crossover focus on gaming and esports, as well as new consumer products – from apparel to collectibles – and a wide range of activations ushering in a new way of thinking for the world of football and sport.


A key strength of the agreement is the creation of a production studio for the JV. The studio will harness Galaxy Racer’s extensive experience in licensing, product development and content generation, production and broadcasting in a region seen as one of the fastest growing territories in the business of sport thanks to a major pipeline of investments in areas such as golf, boxing, F1 and horse racing in recent years, as well as the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 which is set to take place later this year.

Based in the UAE, the JV will feature a team of around 20 people dedicated to developing the brand and securing new business opportunities, with a five-person board of directors including Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Maite Ventura. Luis Cardenas, Commercial Director for LaLiga MENA, will be chief commercial officer (CCO).

The JV will work in coordination with the league’s delegates based in Morocco, Egypt, Qatar,
KSA, Turkey, Israel, India and the UAE, a key component for the regional growth.

DP World Tour’s new Hero Cup to take place in Abu Dhabi

The DP World Tour today announced the Hero Cup, a new team match play contest aimed at giving European players experience in the format, will take place at Abu Dhabi Golf Club from January 13-15, 2023. 

Two ten-man teams comprising players from Great Britain & Ireland and Continental Europe will be selected by Luke Donald, who will preside over the event in his capacity as 2023 European Ryder Cup Captain, in consultation with the two team captains, who will be named in due course. 

Donald will work with both teams in Abu Dhabi and will keep a close eye on the action inside the ropes across the three days, with the contest consisting of one session of foursomes, one session of fourballs and one session of singles matches, with all 20 players taking part in each session. 

He said: “One of the first things I was keen to do when I was appointed as Ryder Cup Captain was to reinstate a team match play contest to give playing and leadership experience to future Ryder Cup players, vice-captains and Captains. 

“I spoke to a number of former Ryder Cup Captains who were strong advocates of how similar events in the past have benefitted players who were pushing to make Ryder Cup teams, as well as their own captaincy journey. 

“I am therefore grateful to Hero MotoCorp and the DP World Tour for supporting the concept of the Hero Cup and I look forward to seeing the players compete at Abu Dhabi Golf Club in January.”

The two teams will be confirmed following the conclusion of the 2022 DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, with performance on the DP World Tour Rankings taken into account in the player selection process. 

The Hero Cup extends Hero MotoCorp’s long-term relationship with the European Tour group which began at the 2015 Hero Indian Open. Since then, Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles, has also supported the Hero Challenge, a series of fast-paced showpiece events and short form social and digital content, which have taken golf to new audiences, as well as the Hero Open which has featured on the DP World Tour schedule since 2020. 

Dr. Pawan Munjal, Chairman & CEO, Hero MotoCorp, said: “We have always supported innovation in golf and this new team match play event on the DP World Tour is certainly an interesting format. 

“We are happy to extend our long-term partnership with the European Tour Group. I am sure the Hero Cup will support and provide an opportunity to the talented European players to showcase their incredible skill to a global audience. We are excited to be part of this.”

Guy Kinnings, European Ryder Cup Director and the DP World Tour’s Deputy CEO and Chief Commercial Officer, said: “The Hero Cup is another example of Hero MotoCorp’s commitment to innovation in golf and to our Tour in general. We are therefore extremely grateful to Dr. Munjal for his continued support and for backing this new event which is an evolution of our proud tradition of team match play events. 

“Our thanks also go to Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the Emirates Golf Federation for their support of the DP World Tour, and to Abu Dhabi Golf Club for hosting this event which will be a fantastic way to start the 2023 calendar year.”

His Excellency Aref Al Awani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, said: “We are delighted to be hosting the Hero Cup at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, adding yet another fantastic tournament to our roster of world class sporting events. 

“Team match play is always an exciting format and along with our Rolex Series event the following week at Yas Island, we are thrilled to welcome the DP World Tour players to Abu Dhabi for two consecutive weeks at the start of 2023.”