Qatar's Lusail Stadium Enters the Metaverse for the FIFA World Cup

Historically, the FIFA World Cup has always kept up with the latest tech to keep fans around the globe as close to the action as possible. In 2010, we got matches broadcast in 3D, and in 2018, they threw us into virtual reality. And this year, during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, we're about to get thrown into the metaverse.

Qatar's Lusail Stadium has been recreated in the metaverse, specifically on Upland, a metaverse platform based in California. Upland is partnering with FIFA to create blockchain-based experiences throughout the tournament. There, you can live out most of the FIFA World Cup experience from the comfort of your home: you can enter a virtual airport, go on a virtual flight for hours to Doha, and even enter virtual shops near Lusail Stadium to buy digital merchandise like flags and scarves, which you can use to decorate a - you guessed it - virtual house.

You can't actually go inside the digital stadium. Upland's World Cup experience is more about the swag - the merchandise and gear you can buy from these virtual stores. You can also accrue points, which can give you the chance to win rare items, like video clips of exciting match moments. One lucky user will even buy the digital address of the virtual Lusail Stadium. Upland's metaverse is mapped to the real world, so users are able to buy and sell digital properties associated with buildings in real life.