Sports streaming subscription service, DAZN, has acquired the broadcasting rights of all Asian Football Confederation (AFC) competitions until 2028 in Japan.
The long-term deal will see DAZN secure the rights to broadcast 14 Asian soccer competitions per cycle which include the AFC Asian Qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the AFC Asian Cup, and AFC Women’s Asian Cup national team competitions, as well as the AFC Champions League, the premier club tournament in Asia.
James Rushton, DAZN Group’s co-chief executive, said: “DAZN agreed a longterm partnership with J.League until 2028 and this investment, following our recent commitment to broadcasting the Yogibo We. League, demonstrates our determination to support Japanese football at all levels, from grassroots to the national team.”
He further added, “As a key stakeholder we recognise our responsibility to invest in football and ensure that the national team remains accessible so will collaborate with AFC to create a shared vision.”
AFC General Secretary Dato’ Windsor John, said: “The AFC is delighted to reiterate our continued partnership with DAZN, and we are confident that DAZN will bring the AFC’s competitions closer to the millions of Japanese football fans in a nation that has a proven track record of success in Asian football, both on and off the pitch.”
DAZN was launched in 2016 and is also the domestic broadcaster of the J.League, Japan’s top-flight men’s soccer league, until 2028. It also recently secured an eight-season deal to broadcast the Yogibo WE. League, Japan’s new elite women’s soccer league.
The AFC has also agreed to a free-to-air (FTA) deal with TV Asahi, whose terrestrial channel will air Japan’s home matches during Asia’s World Cup qualifiers, as well as selected games from the 2023 Asian Cup in China.
AFC has secured media rights deal with multiple partners in the past few days which includes collaboration with FSDL and OneFootball as well.