Vietnam football faces risk of losing broadcasting rights for FIFA ASEAN Cup and Asiad

With only a few weeks before the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup kicks off, Vietnamese football fans face the prospect of being unable to watch the national team live, as broadcasting rights for the tournament remain unsold in Southeast Asia. Information from VietNamNet indicates that a major Vietnamese television station is close to finalizing a deal, but the negotiation faces significant challenges, especially after FIFA changed the organizational structure compared to previous editions managed by the AFF. According to the published schedule, coach Kim Sang Sik's Vietnam will start their FIFA ASEAN Cup campaign with three matches in less than a week: against the Philippines on September 26 at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung, Indonesia; then against Thailand around September 29; and ending the group stage against Pakistan on October 2 in Jakarta. This congested fixture poses a major physical and rotation challenge, but the most urgent issue is whether fans will be able to watch the team perform on television. Notably, this year's tournament is directly organized by FIFA instead of the traditional AFF control, making rights negotiations much more complicated. A leader of a major Vietnamese TV station told VietNamNet: 'FIFA's involvement makes negotiation harder than before. We are trying to reach an agreement at a reasonable price, but the process is not simple.' As of now, no media entity in Southeast Asia holds the broadcasting rights for the FIFA ASEAN Cup, meaning the entire region could face a blackout if talks fail. The situation is similar for the Asian Games (Asiad 20) in Japan from September 19 to October 4, where negotiations have hit an impasse, described as 'very difficult, almost at a dead end.' Asiad 20 features 43 sports with 469 events, and Vietnam's delegation targets 4-6 gold medals and a top-20 finish. The overlapping schedules of both events put further pressure on broadcasters, who must prioritize budgets. If the FIFA ASEAN Cup deal succeeds, the station plans to sub-license to local broadcasters and online platforms for wide coverage, but no commitment has been made. Fans' anxiety is growing, especially as Vietnam is the reigning ASEAN champion, raising expectations. The lack of live coverage could affect team morale and fan engagement. Alternatives like digital streaming or delayed broadcasts are being considered but not finalized. The biggest risk is a dual blackout, leaving fans to rely on summaries or unofficial channels, impacting advertising revenue and sports media development. Despite the challenges, hope remains as negotiations continue, and Vietnam could become the first SEA country to break the deadlock, bringing the national team closer to millions of football-loving hearts.