Why does Vietnam still not have broadcasting rights for the FIFA ASEAN Cup and Asiad?

Vietnamese football fans are facing the risk of being unable to watch live matches of the national team at the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 and various sports at the Asian Games. According to information from VietNamNet, a major domestic television station is close to successfully buying the broadcasting rights for the regional tournament organized by FIFA, but currently no entity in Southeast Asia owns the rights. This creates a dramatic scenario: the Vietnamese team has a schedule and a finalized gathering plan, but fans may not be able to watch live. The FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 is scheduled to take place from late September to early October, featuring top regional teams. Under the guidance of coach Kim Sang Sik, Vietnam will face the Philippines on September 26 at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung (Indonesia), then Thailand three days later, and finally Pakistan on October 2 in Jakarta. This is a dense schedule requiring significant squad rotation. Pakistan, a South Asian team, appearing in an ASEAN tournament is unusual, possibly due to an expanded format or an invited team. Broadcasting rights are a hot issue. Previously, regional tournaments organized by AFF often had rights purchased by domestic television stations at reasonable prices. However, FIFA is directly organizing this tournament, making negotiations 'much more complex.' A leader of a major television station said they are negotiating at a 'reasonable price' but admitted that no entity in Southeast Asia owning the rights is unprecedented. If the negotiation succeeds, the station will buy the original rights and sublicense them to local stations, allowing fans to watch on multiple channels. At the same time, broadcasting rights for the 20th Asian Games (Asiad 20) (September 19 to October 4 in Japan) are also at an impasse. The Vietnamese sports delegation aims to win 4-6 gold medals and finish in the top 20, but if rights are not purchased, fans will not be able to watch live events like athletics, swimming, and gymnastics – where Vietnam has hopes. A television station leader described the Asiad situation as 'very difficult' and at an impasse. The main reason is that Asiad is a multi-sport event (43 sports, 469 events), making the rights package too large and expensive for the Vietnamese market. The lack of rights for two major sporting events at the same time (late September to early October) creates double pressure. Fans are expecting to see the team after a recent ASEAN championship (although information about the championship is inconsistent in the original article, it is clear that the Vietnamese team is receiving special attention). If the rights fail, it will be a significant loss of brand value and fan trust in broadcasters and sports authorities. From a professional perspective, FIFA's centralization of regional football rights is a systemic change, usually accompanied by higher prices and less flexibility. The Southeast Asian market is reacting by 'holding out,' hoping a pioneer (possibly Vietnam) will break the ice. For the Asiad, alternative solutions like broadcast news, highlights, or delayed broadcasts may be applied, but this can hardly satisfy fan demand in the digital age. Coach Kim Sang Sik has finalized the team's gathering plan, indicating that professional preparation is proceeding independently of the rights issue. However, the morale and support of fans are inseparable factors. If matches are not broadcast, not only will fans be disappointed, but players will also lose enormous mental motivation. The question is: Can the broadcasters finalize negotiations in the coming time? Or will fans have to endure a gloomy autumn, only able to follow through newspaper reports? The Vietnamese sports media market is facing a difficult equation: meeting audience demand while balancing finances in a context of rising rights prices. The transition from AFF to FIFA, along with the explosion of digital content, may completely change how fans access football and sports in the near future. In any case, the team's preparation continues seriously. Fans can only hope for a positive outcome from the negotiations, so that goals and top moments do not only exist on the pitch but also reach every home.