The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and beIN MEDIA GROUP have announced the completion of a historic long-term agreement under which beIN will have the rights to broadcast all AFC matches for 3 consecutive tournaments until 2032 in the Middle East and North Africa region.
During the first cycle 2022-2024, beIN Media Group and its leading sports channel beIN SPORTS will have the exclusive rights to broadcast all AFC matches within selected countries in the Middle East and North Africa, with the exception of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iran and Iraq.
The list of (14) countries in which beIN has exclusive rights includes: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Syria, Tunisia and Yemen. beIN also has non-exclusive broadcasting rights in the following countries: Chad, Djibouti, Mauritania, Somalia and Sudan.
As for the subsequent cycles 2025-2028 and 2029-2032, beIN will have exclusive rights to cover and broadcast all AFC tournaments in 17 countries within the Middle East and North Africa, and non-exclusive rights in 6 other countries in the Middle East and North Africa (full summary of rights and territories (available below).
Under this partnership between the AFC and beIN, which dates back to 2010, beIN SPORTS will offer exclusive coverage of AFC matches across its four AFC matches channels, providing viewers with the opportunity to watch all matches simultaneously. The coverage of each match will also be accompanied by the best world-class sports analysis studios provided by beIN through a selection of its most distinguished talents in the world of sports analysis.
The AFC rights will be available on all beIN subscription packages and added to beIN SPORTS’ unrivaled sports portfolio across the MENA region, which also includes exclusive rights to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the English Premier League and the UEFA Champions League. , the European Football League, the European Football Conference League, the Spanish League, the German League, the French League, the FA Cup and many more broadcast rights for other sports and entertainment.
On this occasion, Mr. Yousef Al-Obaidly, CEO of beIN MEDIA GROUP, said: “We are pleased to conclude this long-term partnership with the Asian Football Confederation, which extends until 2032. It is a very important agreement for beIN and all of our business, and demonstrates our full commitment to privileged rights and for the long term. We consider the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 as just the beginning of our plans at beIN and this agreement is just a simple proof of that.”
He continued, “The rights to broadcast AFC matches and tournaments will enhance our unique and exceptional portfolio of exclusive sports and entertainment rights over the next decade. This new deal continues to cement beIN’s position as the home of sports and entertainment within the MENA region – both now and for the long term. decades to come. We look forward to being a reliable partner for Asian football across the region.”
AFC General Secretary Dato’ Windsor John said of the historic deal: “The AFC is pleased to enter into this privileged partnership with beIN, which has been a loyal partner of the Asian game since 2010. This long-term agreement underscores the growing profile of the AFC’s competitions. The world-class Asian football, the confidence that major broadcasters have in the prosperous future that awaits Asian football and beIN’s uniqueness in the region for decades.”
He added, “The Middle East and North Africa region is home to many passionate fans of Asian football, and we are delighted to be able to share it with hundreds of millions of viewers and fans across the region.”
Rights Summary
Rights for the 2022-2024 cycle
beIN has rights to cover and broadcast tournaments in the following 19 countries: Exclusive rights: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Syria, Tunisia and Yemen. Non-exclusive rights: Chad, Djibouti, Mauritania, Somalia and Sudan.
Rights:
• AFC Asian Cup 2023
• AFC U-23 Cup 2022
• Asian Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship (Final Round) Paris 2024
• AFC U-20 Cup 2023
• AFC U-17 Cup 2023
• AFC U-20 Women’s Cup 2024
• AFC U-17 Women’s Cup 2024
• AFC Futsal Cup 2022, 2024 (2024 which is the Futsal World Championship 2024 – the final Asian Qualifying Round)
• AFC Solidarity Cup 2024
• AFC Champions League 2022, 2023, 2024 (group stage, knockout matches and finals)
• AFC Cup 2022, 2023, 2024 (group stage, knockout matches and finals)
• AFC Futsal Championship 2023, 2024
Rights for the sessions 2025-2028 and 2029-2032
beIN has exclusive rights to cover and broadcast tournaments in the following 23 countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. and non-exclusive rights in Chad, Djibouti, Iran, Mauritania, Somalia and Sudan.
• Asia Qualifiers – Final Round of FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers, Final Round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers 2030 including play-off
• AFC Asian Cup Finals (one match per session)
• Women’s Asian Cup Finals (one match per tournament)
• AFC U-23 Cup Finals 2026, 2028, 2030, 2032 (two matches per session)
• Women’s Olympic Qualifying Asian Championships (final round) in Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032
• AFC U-20 Cup Finals (one match per session)
• AFC U-17 Cup Finals (one match per session)
• AFC U-20 Women’s Cup Finals (2 matches per session)
• AFC U-17 Women’s Cup Finals (2 matches per session)
• AFC Futsal Cup Finals (2 matches per session)
• AFC Solidarity Cup (Year/Years – Not yet determined)
• AFC Champions League – group stage, knockout matches and finals (annually during each round)
• AFC Cup – group stage, knockout matches and finals (annually during each round)
• AFC Futsal Championship Finals (annual during each session)
