Man U’s Premier League First: ‘Fantasy United’ Web3 Football Game Launches on Tezos Blockchain

Manchester United has unveiled “Fantasy United,” a groundbreaking Web3 fantasy football game built on the Tezos blockchain, marking a Premier League first. This cutting-edge initiative seamlessly integrates digital collectibles with an immersive fantasy football experience. Fans can now collect unique “Player Trading Cards” and assemble their dream teams, elevating fan engagement and bringing football fandom into the modern era. The launch of Fantasy United is the latest in a string of successful digital projects from the club, designed to foster deeper fan interaction and revolutionize the way fans engage with the beautiful game.

• Launch of Player Trading Cards for Premier League’s First Web3 Fantasy Football Game
• Man United Collaboration with Tezos Blockchain and Community Impact

Launch of Player Trading Cards for Premier League’s First Web3 Fantasy Football Game

Manchester United has unveiled Player Trading Cards for the 2024/25 season, featuring all first-team players including new arrivals Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro. These exclusive cards, available in Classic, Rare, and Ultra-Rare editions, are meticulously hand-drawn and boast real-time statistics updates. Fans can now immerse themselves in the Fantasy United game, using these cards to assemble their dream five-man squads. Within this exciting game, fans engage in mini-leagues, earning points based on the actual performances of Manchester United stars, such as goals, assists, tackles, and saves.

As the season progresses, fans will be kept up to date on the most popular player selections and insightful strategies from United legends and fantasy football pros. What’s more, they have the chance to go head-to-head with former United greats in the Legends leagues, adding an extra thrill to the experience. Devil-holders, proud owners of the club’s original digital collection, were granted early access to these Player Trading Cards. Now, all other passionate fans can join in the fun as of July 31st.

Man United Collaboration with Tezos Blockchain and Community Impact

The collaboration between Manchester United and the Tezos Blockchain has proven to be a resounding success. It kicked off in 2022 with the launch of ‘The Devils,’ an original digital collection featuring 7,777 unique characters drawn from the club’s rich history. These digital collectibles were met with overwhelming demand and were quickly sold out within just a few days. Sunil Singhvi, Head of Culture at Trilitech, the Tezos R&D Hub, highlights that this new initiative fosters a deeper connection between fans and their beloved club. According to Sunil, “supporters can now cheer on their heroes and follow the season’s progress through dynamically updating collectibles.” Manchester United’s foray into the Web3 space with Fantasy United aligns with a broader trend among football clubs embracing blockchain technology to engage fans.

This trend is not isolated to Manchester United. Manchester City, for instance, has recently announced a partnership with Quidd to introduce a series of Manchester City-themed NFT trading cards. This collaboration aims to provide fans with one-of-a-kind digital memorabilia, offering special perks like merchandise, hospitality tickets, and exclusive experiences. This move is part of Manchester City’s broader effort to engage with the NFT and Web3 communities, building upon previous successful initiatives. The club has already released several NFT collections, including commemorative items and collaborations with partners like OKX and Sony.

Last season, fans had the opportunity to claim free hand-drawn digital collectibles at all men’s and women’s home games, resulting in an astonishing 750,000 claims. Similarly, Quidd’s partnership with Manchester City marks its second collaboration with a professional football team, following a similar partnership with Newcastle United. As football clubs continue to explore innovative ways to connect with their fanbase, these blockchain initiatives are paving the way for a new era of fan engagement.