Vietnam football faces blackout risk at FIFA ASEAN Cup and Asiad: Broadcasting rights deadlock

Vietnam national team is eagerly preparing for the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 and Asian Games 20, but fans may face a bitter reality: no live TV coverage. According to VietNamNet, no broadcaster in Vietnam or Southeast Asia has secured the rights for either event, raising the risk of a broadcast blackout. Vietnam recently won an ASEAN title, fueling high expectations. Coach Kim Sang Sik has finalized the team's assembly for the FIFA ASEAN Cup, with a packed schedule: Philippines (Sep 26, 19:30, Si Jalak Harupat Stadium, Bandung), Thailand three days later, and Pakistan on Oct 2 in Jakarta. Three matches in roughly a week demand heavy squad rotation. However, behind the scenes lies a tough commercial negotiation. The FIFA ASEAN Cup is organized by FIFA, not AFF as before, centralizing rights and increasing complexity. Result: no Southeast Asian broadcaster has bought the rights – a region-wide deadlock. In Vietnam, a major TV station is 'close to buying' the package, but no deal is confirmed. The same station may sub-license domestically if successful. Meanwhile, the Asian Games 20 (Sep 19–Oct 4) rights are also in trouble, described as 'very difficult' with talks stalled in Japan, a key market. With 43 sports and 469 events, the multi-sport bundle is financially challenging. Vietnam's delegation targets 4–6 golds and a top-20 finish, but without rights, fans may miss historic moments. The overlapping schedules of both events in late September to early October compound the pressure on broadcasters. If no breakthrough occurs soon, Vietnamese football may enter two major tournaments with a black mark: fans unable to watch live. This signals a gap in sports commerce and diplomacy that needs urgent attention.