Argentine Football Association Teams Up With STEPN to Launch Digital Sneakers With Real-Life Rewards

The world of football is stepping into the future as the Argentine Football Association (AFA), home to one of the most iconic national teams in history, has announced a unique new partnership with STEPN, a blockchain-based fitness and lifestyle app. Together, they’re launching digital sneakers tied to real-life perks for fans.

It’s a two-year deal that not only brings Argentina’s national football team deeper into the Web3 world but also offers fans a new way to connect with their favorite team—using NFTs and blockchain rewards.

What is STEPN?

First, let’s start with STEPN. It’s a popular “move-to-earn” app built on the Solana blockchain. The idea is simple: users earn cryptocurrency rewards by walking, jogging, or running outdoors—while wearing digital sneakers that exist as non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

Since launching, STEPN has attracted more than 5.7 million users worldwide, all combining fitness with blockchain rewards. Think of it as Pokémon GO meets Web3, but instead of catching creatures, you’re collecting tokens and NFTs for being active.

The Partnership: Argentina Meets Blockchain Fitness

Now, with the Argentine Football Association joining forces with STEPN, the partnership will introduce a special edition of Genesis NFT Sneakers. These sneakers aren’t just cool digital collectibles—they come with real-world rewards like:

• Signed Argentina team jerseys
• Matchday tickets
• Other exclusive fan experiences

These digital sneakers will be distributed through raffles, giving fans the chance to win them just by participating. And since they’re NFTs, they can be used within the STEPN app to start earning rewards—or held as collectibles tied to one of the greatest football teams of all time.

Why Is This a Big Deal?

This isn’t just about some flashy digital shoes. It’s part of a much bigger trend: sports teams using Web3 to connect with fans in more meaningful ways.

In the words of Leandro Petersen, the Commercial and Marketing Director of AFA:

“AFA pathway in the Web3 continues to grow and thanks to STEPN experience AFA will be able to reach millions of users in the web3 space aiming for consolidating the passion and excellence our Team transmits to the next generation of Argentina National Team fans.”

In other words, this is about more than just tech—it’s about storytelling, community, and bringing the excitement of football into a whole new digital world.

AFA’s Web3 Journey So Far

This isn’t the first time Argentina’s football association has dipped its toes into the Web3 world.

Back in 2021, the AFA teamed up with Socios.com, a popular fan engagement platform that lets supporters buy digital tokens and vote on certain team decisions. That partnership led to the launch of the $ARG fan token, giving fans a voice in everything from jersey designs to team slogans. It was a way to bring supporters closer to the team in a digital, interactive way.

Then came 2022, when the AFA signed a five-year deal with crypto exchange Binance, aiming to make Binance the team’s official sponsor and launch another fan token. But there was a problem—the deal overlapped with their existing agreement with Socios. Things got complicated, and an Argentine judge ended up putting the brakes on the Binance partnership, saying it couldn’t move forward while the previous contract was still valid.

So while the AFA has been exploring blockchain and crypto for a few years, this new partnership with STEPN is a bit different. Instead of focusing on governance or fan voting, it’s all about rewards, digital collectibles, and interactive experiences—making it a fresh, more immersive step forward into Web3.

What Makes These Digital Sneakers Different?

NFTs have been around for a while now, and many sports teams have launched their own collections. But this collaboration adds a new twist.

These Genesis NFT Sneakers are:

1. Usable – They’re not just collectibles. You can actually use them in the STEPN app to earn crypto by being active.
2. Reward-based – Holding these sneakers gives you the chance to unlock perks like match tickets or signed memorabilia.
3. Interactive – They provide a gamified experience. Fans aren’t just buying something—they’re participating in an ecosystem.

It’s an experience that blends fitness, fandom, and finance, all powered by blockchain.

What’s in It for Fans?

This partnership is all about the fans. If you’re an Argentina national team supporter, you now have a new way to show your loyalty—and potentially get rewarded for it.

Here’s what fans can look forward to:

• Limited Edition NFTs that commemorate the national team
• Exclusive access to raffles for matchday experiences
• Chances to win signed team gear
• A new way to engage with the team through digital collectibles that do more than just sit in a wallet

The Bigger Picture: Sports + Web3 = The Future?

This partnership highlights how sports organizations are evolving beyond traditional fan engagement. Web3 technologies offer new ways for fans to feel like insiders, whether that’s through token-based voting, digital collectibles, or real-world perks tied to virtual items.

And Argentina isn’t alone. Across the world, clubs like FC Barcelona, PSG, and Juventus have launched similar fan engagement tools, and national teams are experimenting with everything from blockchain ticketing to virtual stadiums.

With its massive global fan base and history of innovation, Argentina is positioning itself to be a leader in sports + Web3 integration.

What’s Next?

Genesis NFT Sneakers are just the start of the AFA‘s partnership with STEPEN. In the next two years, there will be more activations, campaigns and experiences for fans, but even further details are still under wraps. The partnership with STEPEN will help open up new ways for fans to engage with the team, whether through collectible items or potentially rewards.

For the AFA, it‘s about reaching more younger and tech-heavy fans while offering them a unique experience.

For STEPN, it‘s about connecting with one of the most passionate fan bases in the world, and signifying that digital fitness can coexist with football culture.

If this partnership proves successful, don’t be surprised to see other national teams and sports leagues follow suit in leveraging Web3 for fan engagement.