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

Why does Vietnam not yet have broadcasting rights for the FIFA ASEAN Cup and Asiad? Vietnamese football fans are facing the risk of not being able to watch the national team play live at the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 and the 20th Asian Games on television. According to VietNamNet, a major domestic television station has come very close to securing the rights for the ASEAN Cup, but no official contract has been signed yet. Meanwhile, the rights for the 20th Asiad are deadlocked in negotiations in Japan, leaving fans worried about live coverage. Both major sports events take place in late September to early October this year, creating a highly competitive window for media resources and audience attention. The FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, featuring Vietnam along with the Philippines, Thailand, and Pakistan, kicks off on September 26. The schedule is dense: facing the Philippines in Bandung on September 26, then Thailand three days later, and finishing the group stage against Pakistan in Jakarta on October 2. Meanwhile, the 20th Asiad opens on September 19 and runs until October 4, with the Vietnamese delegation aiming for 4-6 gold medals and a top-20 finish. The complexity of the rights negotiations stems from FIFA becoming the official organizer of the FIFA ASEAN Cup, replacing the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) as before. The centralization of commercial rights by FIFA makes negotiations harder than previous regional tournaments. So far, no television organization in Vietnam or the entire Southeast Asian region owns the rights to the tournament. This indicates a mismatch between FIFA's valuation and the region's willingness to pay. For the 20th Asiad, the situation is even more tense. Rights negotiations are described as "very difficult" and are at an impasse. The Asiad rights package covers 43 sports and 469 events, pushing costs beyond the capacity of any single national broadcaster. Without a deal, fans may miss live coverage of both major events. Vietnamese broadcasters are negotiating at a "reasonable price." Sources indicate that a major station will buy the ASEAN Cup rights and then sublicense to domestic television units. This redistribution model is a feasible way to share the financial burden and ensure wide coverage. However, if the deal cannot be finalized before kickoff, the risk of a blackout is high. In this context, the Vietnamese national team under coach Kim Sang Sik is actively preparing. The squad gathering plan has been finalized, indicating stability in professional work. However, the intense schedule of three matches in one week poses major challenges in fitness and personnel. Playing across two different venues in Bandung and Jakarta adds another layer of complexity. The Southeast Asian broadcasting rights market is undergoing a structural shift. FIFA's centralization of rights has changed the game, but the region's purchasing power has not kept pace. Without a timely solution, Vietnamese fans may have to accept disappointing news: not being able to watch their team on national television. The question remains whether Vietnamese broadcasters can close the deal in time and whether fans will get to enjoy top-level matches on free-to-air TV. Time will tell, but for now, the atmosphere is tense as the deadline approaches. (Source: VietNamNet, cross-checked data from VuaBong.vn)