As digital ticketing becomes mandatory in the English Premier League, clubs should already be thinking beyond QR codes
Digital ticketing is no longer optional
The EPL's move to mandatory digital ticketing for the 2026/27 season marks a major shift in how clubs manage stadium access and fan engagement.
While digital ticketing itself is the immediate requirement, Tottenham Hotspur’s trial of NFC (Near Field Communication) ticketing as a replacement for QR codes signals where the industry is heading next: faster, more secure, and significantly more intelligent identity and access management technology, designed to improve the fan experience while helping combat ticket touting and ticket fraud.
For clubs still relying heavily on barcodes and QR-based infrastructure, the message is clear, now is the time to prepare for the modern world.
This is about more than replacing paper tickets
This transition is about far more than simply replacing paper tickets or opening a turnstile.
NFC ticketing through Apple Wallet, Google Wallet and Samsung Wallet creates a genuinely frictionless supporter experience. Fans can simply tap their phone or wearable at the gate, eliminating many of the frustrations associated with QR codes including scan alignment, screen brightness, damaged screens, poor weather, bad connectivity and screenshot-based fraud.
The operational benefits are immediate: faster ingress, reduced queues, improved reliability and stronger security.
The real opportunity is data, engagement and a single digital identity
But the bigger opportunity lies beyond entry itself.
Modern NFC Wallet technology enables clubs to transform ticketing into a powerful engagement and data platform. Every supporter interaction becomes an opportunity to better understand visitor behaviour, improve operational insight and connect digital identity with hospitality, loyalty, retail and venue services.
For clubs modernising their infrastructure ahead of the 2026/27 deadline, and especially those being promoted from the Championship with a 2 year window to adapt to digital ticketing, this is the ideal moment to rethink the role of ticketing altogether.
Built for the next generation of stadium access
Here at Dot Origin, our range of VTAP NFC readers provides contactless reader technology specifically designed for wallet-based ticketing, membership, loyalty and access control applications. Our solutions integrate directly with Apple Wallet, Google Wallet and Samsung Wallet ecosystems and support all modern NFC standards including Apple VAS and Google Smart Tap as well as being backwards compatible with physical RFID cards and tags.
We provide a wide range of NFC reading solutions including:
- Embedded NFC reader boards for installation inside turnstiles and stadium hardware
- Complete indoor and outdoor access control NFC readers for mounting on doors and turnstiles
- Desktop, kiosk and point-of-sale NFC readers connected via USB and Bluetooth
- IoT-style NFC readers with Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity and cloud-based management
- Support for hybrid deployments and migrations, by combining NFC, RFID, barcodes and QR codes
Trusted by leading clubs and stadiums worldwide
Our mobile wallet reading technology is already trusted globally across sport, events, fitness, hospitality, retail and membership environments.
In football, Dot Origin's VTAP readers have been deployed at all La Liga stadiums, as well as at Manchester City, Crystal Palace, FC Porto, Ascot Racecourse and numerous other leading venues worldwide.
The clubs that move early will benefit most
As clubs prepare for mandatory digital ticketing, the question should not simply be "How do we comply?" The real opportunity is understanding how digital identity, membership and ticketing using NFC Wallet technology can help deliver the next generation of supporter experience.
Clubs that are planning now will benefit from smoother deployments, better operational visibility, and stronger supporter engagement before the inevitable final move away from QR codes to NFC.
Explore other relevant resources:
- NFC wallet tickets provide swift and secure member experiences - FC Porto - VTAP NFC mobile wallet reader
- Benefits of NFC Wallet over QR codes
Speak to our team
To discuss NFC ticketing deployments, stadium hardware integrations or partnership opportunities, make an enquiry here: https://www.vtapnfc.com/contact-us/
We welcome enquiries directly from clubs, ticketing providers, access control manufacturers and stadium technology partners supporting the next generation of digital ticketing infrastructure.