Soccer, often referred to as "the beautiful game," holds the distinction of being the most followed sport globally, captivating an estimated 3.5 billion fans. The 2022 World Cup finals alone attracted 1.5 billion television viewers, with over 5 billion people engaging with the tournament in some capacity, significantly surpassing other major sporting events.
In this context, London-based blockchain game Soccerverse has announced a significant development, integrating real professional players into its virtual football universe. This move marks a notable crossover between the Web3 industry and the sports realm.
FIFPRO Partnership Drives Authenticity in Soccerverse
Soccerverse has secured a licensing deal with FIFPRO, the global representative body for professional footballers. Effective December 10, 2025, this partnership will allow the community-driven football management and trading game to utilize the real names and images of over 65,000 active professional players.
This means that Soccerverse players will have the ability to sign and trade actual football stars, including both established veterans and emerging talents, for their in-game clubs. The license encompasses more than 70 national player associations, covering a wide range of major footballing nations.
Players from countries such as England, France, Italy, Argentina, Portugal, Belgium, Scotland, Norway, and Sweden will now be virtually represented in the game. This integration represents a substantial enhancement in realism and credibility for Soccerverse, introducing official authenticity to a genre of blockchain games that has often relied on fictional or user-generated characters.
Furthermore, gamers will be able to manage their virtual clubs with real-world players, trade their favorite stars from top leagues, and participate in a dynamic economy driven by player transactions, mirroring the real-world transfer market. This level of authenticity is a significant achievement for Web3 gaming, positioning Soccerverse alongside traditional sports video titles like PES and FIFA, which feature real rosters.
Soccerverse CEO Andrew Gore commented on the development:
"Partnering with FIFPRO is a landmark moment for Soccerverse and a massive win for our community. Trust and authenticity are critical to our vision, and this license is our commitment to building a legitimate football universe. This is a true partnership that also supports FIFPRO's vital mission, providing a global platform for the entire collective of players and giving our community the chance to discover talent from under-represented footballing nations."
FIFPRO's leadership expressed similar enthusiasm, commending partners who seek to "innovate and rethink the norm" in the evolving landscape of digital entertainment. They highlighted that Soccerverse's novel approach aligns with the forward-thinking mindset of the players' organization.
Community-Driven Football on the Blockchain
Soccerverse has been actively building its community and game world in anticipation of this milestone. The game, which launched in January 2025, is now entering its second season with over 2,000 active managers overseeing clubs across multiple virtual leagues.
The game is built on the Polygon network and operates on a community-driven and community-owned model. Each club within the game is represented as an NFT-like asset, allowing for multiple fan-owners, known as "influence holders," to share in the decision-making process.
The simulation includes 5,350 clubs organized within a tiered league system, all managed by real players in real time. Matches are played twice weekly, and managers are responsible for strategizing all aspects of their clubs, from squad selection and tactics to transfers and financing, closely reflecting the challenges of real-world club management.
Given soccer's enduring global popularity, innovations like Soccerverse, situated at the intersection of live action, player engagement, and technological advancement, are poised for significant growth. This is particularly relevant as other established game franchises already engage over 150 million players globally on a regular basis.
By offering a community-driven, blockchain-powered simulator featuring real player likenesses, Soccerverse allows fans to interact with their heroes and own a part of the action, promising an exciting future for the platform.