A step towards the future of ticketing at sporting events was made this week as the home of football, Wembley, became the first sports stadium in the UK to offer contactless ticketing.

Teaming up with Apple and Fortress GB, a global ticketing technology specialists, who will oversee the system, the national stadium will use this method of ticketing for the first time when England play Italy next March.

Fans with tickets to the game will be able to load contactless tickets onto Apple Wallet on their iPhone or Apple Watch, and enter the ground that way, and presumably negating worries about lost tickets and speeding up entry into the ground before kick-off.

It’s another way that technology can enhance the matchday experience in a truly positive way, and yet another move towards mobile and contactless payment at football stadiums. And with an iconic stadium like Wembley – not to mention one with such a large capacity – taking the lead, others are sure to follow.

Paul Smyth, head of ticketing for the FA, said: “We’re delighted that Wembley Stadium is one of the first global venues to work alongside Fortress GB and Apple to bring this technology to fans, and we are committed to providing this technology across our ticketing platform for all events in 2018, onwards.

“The innovation strengthens our aspiration to be the digital leader in supporter entry, establishing greater one-to-one contact with the consumer and making it easier and safer for all.”