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

As Vietnam's national team prepares for the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup and the 20th Asian Games (ASIAD 20), fans face the risk of being unable to watch live matches due to unresolved broadcasting rights. A major Vietnamese television station is reported to be close to acquiring the rights to the FIFA ASEAN Cup, but the deal has not been finalized. Meanwhile, the rights for ASIAD 20 are in a serious deadlock, with negotiations described as 'very difficult'. The 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup will take place from late September to early October. Vietnam is placed in a group with the Philippines, Thailand, and Pakistan. The schedule is compact: facing the Philippines on September 26 at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung, meeting Thailand three days later, and then confronting Pakistan on October 2 in Jakarta. This cluster of three matches in under a week poses a major challenge to fitness and squad rotation for coach Kim Sang Sik. According to a leader from a national television station, negotiators are trying to buy the rights 'at a reasonable price.' However, because the tournament is organized by FIFA instead of the AFF as before, the negotiation process has become much more complex. Currently, no entity in Vietnam or Southeast Asia owns the rights – an unprecedented situation for a regional tournament. This means that without a last-minute agreement, Vietnamese fans might not be able to watch the national team's matches live on television. The station that acquires the rights is expected to sub-license them to local broadcasters, but that scenario is only feasible if the rights fee is not too high. Meanwhile, ASIAD 20 (scheduled from September 19 to October 4) is in a similar predicament. The ASIAD rights are considered 'very difficult' and are currently deadlocked. Vietnam's sports delegation targets 4-6 gold medals and a top-20 finish overall, but without the rights, the ability to follow key sports events will be severely limited. ASIAD 20 is a massive event with 43 sports and 469 events. Buying the rights for a multi-sport event requires enormous financial resources, beyond the capacity of many national broadcasters. Alternative solutions such as highlight broadcasts, delayed coverage, or free clips on digital platforms are being considered, but no official decision has been made yet. The overlapping schedule of the FIFA ASEAN Cup and ASIAD (both in late September/early October) exacerbates the economic problem. Broadcasters are forced to prioritize, and fans risk losing access to both major events. On the professional side, the Vietnamese national team has finalized its gathering plan. Coach Kim Sang Sik will have the ability to rotate the squad to cope with the congested fixtures. However, the inclusion of Pakistan in an ASEAN-branded tournament is unusual and needs verification from official sources. Some opinions suggest it could be an invited team or that the information is inaccurate. Overall, the broadcasting rights story is becoming a focal point ahead of major tournaments. Fan expectations following a recent title victory further increase pressure on negotiators. Without a timely solution, the risk of a 'black screen' is real, affecting the experience of millions of sports fans in the country. The issue is not just about price, but also about a long-term strategy for accessing tournaments organized by FIFA and the OCA. Vietnam needs a more flexible rights acquisition mechanism, possibly through regional cooperation or direct negotiations with rights holders. In the short term, fans can only wait for positive signals from the negotiations. The Vietnamese national team is ready professionally. Will the media system keep up? The answer will come in the coming days.