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Liverpool Expands Partnership With NFT Fantasy Sports Startup Sorare

FILE PHOT: Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Newcastle United - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - August 31, 2022 A Liverpool flag is pictured before the match REUTERS/Phil Noble
FILE PHOT: Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Newcastle United - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - August 31, 2022 A Liverpool flag is pictured before the match REUTERS/Phil Noble
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Liverpool Expands Partnership With NFT Fantasy Sports Startup Sorare

FILE PHOT: Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Newcastle United - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - August 31, 2022 A Liverpool flag is pictured before the match REUTERS/Phil Noble
FILE PHOT: Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Newcastle United - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - August 31, 2022 A Liverpool flag is pictured before the match REUTERS/Phil Noble

Liverpool football club is deepening its ties with the crypto world by expanding a partnership with French blockchain-based sports startup Sorare, the company said in a statement on Thursday.

Sorare, whose online fantasy sports game involves the sale of licensed digital sports cards which players can use to build teams which compete against each other, said it had an exclusive multi-year partnership with Liverpool to create content and experiences for fans.

The cards for the game are bought and traded in the form of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), a kind of crypto asset which records the ownership status of digital goods on the blockchain, Reuters reported.

A 2021 deal saw Liverpool cards introduced on the platform and the new deal will see perks such as Liverpool stadium visits, match day experiences, merchandise and video content being offered as prizes for winners of the online game, Sorare said.

Sports-related collectibles proved a popular type of NFT as the digital assets market exploded into a multibillion-dollar industry last year, although the frenzy has cooled in recent months.

The average sale price of a Sorare NFT in August was $86.14, down from a peak of around $280 in March last year, according to market tracker CryptoSlam.

Britain's gambling watchdog is investigating Sorare to assess whether its game amounts to gambling. A spokesperson for Sorare said that this was "not relevant" to the partnership with Liverpool.

"Sorare remains very confident it does not offer any forms of gambling, and this has been confirmed by expert legal opinions at every stage since the company was founded, including when signing new partnerships," the spokesperson said.

Sorare says it has over 2 million users worldwide and partnerships with more than 280 million sports organizations, including Major League Baseball in the United States and UK football clubs.

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Sports

Empty Seats at World Cup Match Renews Concerns over Ticket Prices

11 June 2026, Mexico, Mexico city: A general view bfore the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa at the Azteca Stadium (Mexico City Stadium). Photo: Tom Weller/dpa
11 June 2026, Mexico, Mexico city: A general view bfore the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa at the Azteca Stadium (Mexico City Stadium). Photo: Tom Weller/dpa
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Empty Seats at World Cup Match Renews Concerns over Ticket Prices

11 June 2026, Mexico, Mexico city: A general view bfore the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa at the Azteca Stadium (Mexico City Stadium). Photo: Tom Weller/dpa
11 June 2026, Mexico, Mexico city: A general view bfore the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa at the Azteca Stadium (Mexico City Stadium). Photo: Tom Weller/dpa

FIFA reported an attendance of 44,985 for Thursday's World Cup match between South Korea and the Czech Republic in Guadalajara, but swathes of empty seats around the stadium renewed concerns over ticket pricing and demand for the expanded tournament.

While more than 80,000 squeezed into the Azteca stadium to watch the opener between co-hosts ‌Mexico and ‌South Africa, the optics of ‌unoccupied ⁠rows at the ⁠46,000-seat stadium in Guadalajara, a city with a deep-rooted football culture, have intensified criticism of FIFA's commercial strategy for the first 48-team World Cup.

Some fans at the stadium blamed the high ticket prices for the rows ⁠of empty seats and criticized ‌FIFA for their pricing ‌model.

Reuters has contacted FIFA for comment.

FIFA President Gianni ‌Infantino on Wednesday defended FIFA's ticket pricing ‌following criticism from supporters who argued the cost of attending matches had become prohibitive. He said ticket prices were on a par with other ‌major sporting events.

FIFA has sold more than 6 million tickets for ⁠the tournament ⁠and previously highlighted strong interest from across the Americas, with Infantino saying demand had exceeded expectations by "a factor of 10 or more".

However, groups such as Football Supporters Europe (FSE) had warned that "extortionate" pricing would exclude ordinary fans. According to FSE, ticket prices for this tournament have jumped fivefold compared to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

South Korea beat the Czechs 2-1 in the Group A match.

Sports

Belgium Keeper Courtois Thinking about Retiring from National Team after World Cup

Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Belgium Training - Seattle Sounders FC Performance Center and Clubhouse, Renton, Washington, US - June 11, 2026 Belgium's Thibaut Courtois with Seattle Sounders' Max Anchor during training. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Belgium Training - Seattle Sounders FC Performance Center and Clubhouse, Renton, Washington, US - June 11, 2026 Belgium's Thibaut Courtois with Seattle Sounders' Max Anchor during training. (Reuters)
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Belgium Keeper Courtois Thinking about Retiring from National Team after World Cup

Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Belgium Training - Seattle Sounders FC Performance Center and Clubhouse, Renton, Washington, US - June 11, 2026 Belgium's Thibaut Courtois with Seattle Sounders' Max Anchor during training. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Belgium Training - Seattle Sounders FC Performance Center and Clubhouse, Renton, Washington, US - June 11, 2026 Belgium's Thibaut Courtois with Seattle Sounders' Max Anchor during training. (Reuters)

Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois ‌is thinking about ending his international career after the World Cup, he said on Thursday as his team prepared for their Group G opener against Egypt in Seattle.

The 34-year-old, who won the first of his 109 caps in 2011, suggested it was time to pass the torch after the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

“I don’t know if we should be talking about the future right now, but the chances are greater that I won’t continue after this ‌tournament than that ‌I will,” he told reporters at the ‌Belgian ⁠team base.

“I still ⁠want to play for a few more years.

“And then you have to take care of your body. My family is here because this could be my last tournament.”

But the Real Madrid goalkeeper also suggested he could be persuaded to continue.

“If we have a good World Cup, of course. And continuing ⁠to feel the good atmosphere within the ‌group. Afterward, I’ll need to ‌have an internal discussion with the coach, (technical director) Vincent Mannaert, and the ‌doctors.”

Courtois said that under former coach Domenico Tedesco he ‌was allowed to skip some international breaks, and that reinforced his thinking.

“I noticed that during those international breaks you can get some rest and work quietly in the gym,” he said.

“In addition, over ‌the last year and a half, I’ve had more little physical problems and injuries, so ⁠you naturally ⁠think more about the future.

"I’m considering passing the torch. There’s a lot of talent coming through with Senne (Lammers) and Mike (Penders).”

Courtois said he was raring to go against Egypt on Monday.

“Yes, I’m very hungry, just like the rest of the group. I feel very good and I’m looking forward to it.

“I also worked very hard on my comeback during the spring. The (quadriceps) injury was unfortunate because at that moment I felt almost unbeatable. But I’m ready to maintain my level now and stay focused,” he added.

Belgium also face Iran and New Zealand in the group stage.

Sports

Bosnia Will Play with Hearts in World Cup Opener, Says Coach Barbarez

Sergej Barbarez, head coach of Bosnia and Herzegovina, attends the press conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina one day ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group B match between Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina at Toronto Stadium on June 11, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Getty Images/AFP)
Sergej Barbarez, head coach of Bosnia and Herzegovina, attends the press conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina one day ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group B match between Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina at Toronto Stadium on June 11, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Bosnia Will Play with Hearts in World Cup Opener, Says Coach Barbarez

Sergej Barbarez, head coach of Bosnia and Herzegovina, attends the press conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina one day ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group B match between Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina at Toronto Stadium on June 11, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Getty Images/AFP)
Sergej Barbarez, head coach of Bosnia and Herzegovina, attends the press conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina one day ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group B match between Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina at Toronto Stadium on June 11, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Getty Images/AFP)

Bosnia and Herzegovina know they are underdogs heading into their World Cup Group B opener against co-hosts Canada, coach Sergej Barbarez said on Thursday, but the Balkan nation will play with pride as they return to the tournament for the first time in 12 years.

Bosnia will look to advance past the group stage this time around after managing one win during their 2014 debut in Brazil.

"We are a small country," Barbarez said. "This is our second ever World ‌Cup and for ‌sure we are sort of an underdog in ‌many ⁠of the matches ⁠ahead."

But despite his side being ranked 64th, the coach is confident in his side's ability to perform on the world's biggest stage.

"If you know our results, I think you have to just admire what we've managed to achieve."

Bosnia claimed one of the six final spots in the World Cup after defeating three-times champions Italy in a penalty shootout. They are heartbreakers who ⁠play with heart and will look to carry that ‌same mentality into the tournament.

"(I once said) ‌I love this game between David and Goliath," Barbarez said. "We play with our ‌hearts and that has been our advantage."

The Dragons are led by ‌40-year-old striker Edin Dzeko, who Barbarez confirmed will be in the squad for Friday's match after overcoming a shoulder injury.

Dzeko is Bosnia's all-time leading scorer with 73 goals.

"Edin will be with us tomorrow," Barbarez said. "Edin will be playing just ‌as usual."

CANADA GAME WILL BE 'QUITE INTENSE'

Barbarez is expecting a tough game against Canada, who are also ⁠aiming to reach ⁠the knockout stage for the first time but face the added pressures of chasing their first ever World Cup win and playing on home soil.

"I am maybe exaggerating a bit, but I'm sure (the game) is going to be quite intense, which is characteristic of both the teams," Barbarez said.

While Canada will have the local crowd behind them, Bosnia will not be without strong support. The Dragons have enjoyed a warm welcome since arriving in Toronto, with fans flocking to the team's training sessions this week.

"We really want to show our best to the whole world," Barbarez said. "We really want to be the team that earns respect and we can only do that by showing what we know on the pitch."