Canal+ and K+ secure AFC football rights in Vietnam

Canal+ and its Vietnamese affiliate K+ have struck an exclusive deal for rights to all competitions organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for Vietnam.

The partnership will kick off with AFC Asian qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2026. Canal+ said the deal reinforced the position of K+ as the leading distributor of sports rights in Vietnam.

The agreement covers over 25 competitions including the World Cup qualifiers, the AFC Asian Cup 2027, which brings together the 24 best teams in Asia, and the AFC Champions League alongside second tier tournament the AFC Cup.

Canal+ said that the matches of the Vietnamese men’s national team and final of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 would be aired free-to-vew on one the main Vietnamese national channels as part of the agreement.

Vietnam was the only south-east Asian team represented in the last stage fo the AFC Asian qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup.

K+ is a JV between Vietnamese pubcaster VTV, Openasia subsidiary Opal and Canal+. It carries 164 channels via satellite and its digital platform and produces five premium channels including two sports services.

The operator currently holds rights to the Premier League, Formula 1, UFC, ATP tennis, the Australian Open and LIV Golf.

It also produces its own K+ originals.

“For a number of years we have watched the incredible development of football in Vietnam at all levels, which underscores the progress of the AFC Vision and Mission plan. We are delighted to conclude this agreement with Canal+ Group which boosts the consumption and coverage of our exciting international competitions for Vietnamese football fans and we are grateful for their confidence in the AFC and the future of Asian football,” said Datuk Seri Windsor, secretary general of the AFC.

“We are delighted and keen to offer the best of Asian football with a quality unequalled in the country to our subscribers and Vietnamese fans. This is a new stage for K+ in Vietnam and a confirmation of our strong commitment to the country,” said Manuel Rougeron, EVP for the APAC region at Canal+ International.