Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Sponsors
This article contains information regarding the organisations enjoying a strong branding presence across the assets of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the official football-governing body of Asia, as its official sponsors and partners.
Official Global Partners
Continental
Continental, a German multinational automotive parts manufacturing company, is the world’s third-largest automotive supplier and the fourth-largest tyre manufacturer. Continental Tires has been an exclusive partner of the AFC and Asian football since 2015.
Continental and the AFC last renewed their deal in December 2020, with the German manufacturer retaining its title as an official global partner of the latter until the end of 2024.
No new extension has been reported but the brand remains as an official global partner on the club’s official website.
Neom
Neom, an urban area being built by Saudi Arabia in Tabuk, serves as an official global partner to the AFC.
In July 2024, Neom and the AFC signed a five-year extension agreement set to run until 2029.
Under the terms of the current deal, Neom is to act as the Official Global Partner of the AFC national team and club competitions and the Presenting Partner of the AFC Women’s Champions League. The agreement also signifies the two parties’ aim of promoting inclusivity in sports.
For this season, the AFC Champions League Elite Finals will have Neom as the Official Global Presenting Partner of the eight final matches to be played in Riyadh in 2025.
Credit Saison
Founded in 1951, Credit Saison is a Japanese financial services company affiliated to Mizuho Financial Group. It is the third-largest credit card issuer in the country.
A long-time partner of the AFC, Credit Saison last signed a partnership extension agreement with the Asian governing body in 2021—a multi-year deal set to run until the end of 2024.
No new extension has been reported but the brand remains as an official global partner on the club’s official website.
Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways is the flag carrier of Qatar. Headquartered in the Qatar Airways Tower in Doha, the airline operates a hub-and-spoke network, flying to over 170 international destinations across five continents from its base at the Hamad International Airport.
The package of rights includes key competitions, such as the 2027 AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia, the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, the 2024 AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar, the AFC Futsal Asian Cups of 2024, 2026 and 2028, and all AFC youth national team competitions.
The sponsorship also includes all matches of the 2023/24 AFC Champions League Knockout Stage and three new AFC club competitions from the 2024/25 season onwards: the AFC Champions League Elite, the AFC Women’s Champions League, and the AFC Champions League Two.
Additionally, Qatar Airways works with the AFC to offer travel packages to football fans.
Yili Group
Yili Group is a Chinese dairy products producer headquartered in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia. It is one of the largest dairy producers in the world.
In July 2021, the AFC announced its partnership with Yili for the 2021–2024 rights cycle. Yili thus became first Official Global Partner of the AFC national team competitions from China, acting as the exclusive sponsor in the dairy products, water, and other selected beverage categories.
The contract was later renewed in September 2025 with the new deal to run until 2028. The new extension will encompass major AFC Competitions including AFC Champions League Elite and the AFC Women’s Champions League, as well as national team events such as the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 26 and the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027.
Official Global Supporters
TECNO
International technology brand Tecno and the AFC announced a global partnership in August 2024, which made the former an Official Global Supporter of the AFC Champions League Elite, the AFC Women’s Champions League, and the AFC Champions League Two for the 2024/25 season.
Through its partnership with the AFC, Tecno aims to deliver unique experiences in Asia and inspire football fans to champion its “Stop at Nothing” spirit together.
KELME
In 2021, AFC signed a partnership deal with global sports apparel brand KELME with the deal to run until 2024.
As per the deal, KELME provided official apparel and accessories for AFC competitions such as the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2022 and 2024, and other youth competitions, as well as provision of the match ball for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023.
In November 2024, the two parties signed an extension for a period between 2024 – 2029.
The renewed partnership will see KELME designated as the Official Global Supporter of all important AFC club competitions as well as several national team competitions.
KELME will also supply the Official Match Balls for the following AFC Competitions – AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027, the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026, the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 and 2028, the AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026 and 2028, the AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Women’s Champions League, and AFC Champions League Two – from 2025 to 2029.
Midea
As per the deal, Midea will be the official global supporter for “AFC Champions League Elite™ from the final stages of the 2024/25 season to the 2028/29 season, and the AFC Champions League Two™ and AFC Women’s Champions League™ from the 2025/26 to the 2028/29 seasons.”
This deal will cover support for the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027, the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 26, the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 and 2028 and the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026.
In addition, the partnership deal will also include being the global supporter for “the AFC’s age-group and futsal competitions, including the AFC U20 Asian Cup™ 2027, the AFC U17 Asian Cup™ 2026, 2027 and 2028, the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup™ 2026, 2027 and 2028, the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup™ 2026 and 2028 and last but not the least, the 2026 and 2028 editions of the AFC Futsal Asian Cup™.”
As a global supporter, Midea will also be given exclusive rights for brand promotion during these competitions.
VISA
In November 2023, global digital payment provider VISA signed a partnership with AFC as their official regional partner for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023.
As per the new deal, VISA will provide support for “the AFC Champions League Elite™, AFC Women’s Champions League™, and AFC Champions League Two™ for the 2024/25 and 2025/26 seasons, as well as the AFC Asian Qualifiers™ – Road to 26.”
As a global supporter, VISA will also be involved in brand promotion and brand activation strategies involving discount on tickets for VISA Card Holders in Asia.
Barbican
Dubai-based non-alcoholic malt drinks company Barbican renewed its partnership with Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in November 2025 as the Official Global Supporter of the AFC Club competitions for the 2025/26 season.
As per the deal, Barbican will continue to support all AFC club competitions, including the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26, the AFC Champions League Two 2025/26 and the AFC Women’s Champions League 2025/26.
Official Regional Partners
Earthlink
The sponsorship agreement will cover the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 2026 with the deal to run until November 2025.
The partnership will also see Earthlink collaborate with AFC for several brand activation and promotion activities.
Talabat
In September 2024, AFC signed a partnership with UAE-based on-demand food and Q-commerce app Talabat as their Official Regional Partner in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan and Iraq regions.
The partnership will cover regional sponsorship for AFC Club competitions which will include the AFC Champions League Elite, the AFC Women’s Champions League, and the AFC Champions League Two for the 2024/25 season.
Official Media Partners
FanCode
As part of the deal, FanCode will stream all upcoming AFC national team and club competitions for the 2025-2028 cycle to the Indian football audience, including the AFC Asian Qualifiers, the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026, the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027, the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 and 2028.
The agreement also includes the revamped club competitions – the AFC Champions League Elite, the AFC Champions League Two and the AFC Women’s Champions League.
Football Australia
AFC first partnered with Football Australia in 2021, covering national team competitions in the 2021-2024 cycle.
Football Australia along with it’s several channels and broadcast partners like Paramount Australia, Network 10, 10 Play and Paramount+ provided the Australian fans extensive coverage of AFC National team competitions.
The partnership will cover all major national team competitions within the contract period, including the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027, the AFC Asian Qualifiers, the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 and 2028, and the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026.
Sport 24
Global sports marketing agency IMG-owned Sports 24 is a live sports channel specifically dedicated for cruises and airlines.
As per the deal, the agreement includes coverage of AFC Competitions like “the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 26™, the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™, AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™, as well as the AFC Champions League Elite™ for the 2025/26, 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29 seasons.”
BG Sports
The deal will include coverage of the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 26, the AFC Champions League Elite (2025/26 and 2028/29) and AFC Champions League Two (2025/26 and 2028/29), and the inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League 2024/25.
BG Sports will also broadcast all matches involving Thai teams as well as additional fixtures from the following competitions – AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027, AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026, AFC U23 Asian Cup (2026 and 2028), AFC Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament (Final Round) for Los Angeles 2028, AFC U20 Asian Cup 2027, AFC U17 Asian Cup (2026, 2027, 2028), AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup (2026 and 2028), AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup (2026, 2027, 2028), AFC Futsal Asian Cup (2026 and 2028) and AFC Women’s Champions League (2025/26 to 2028/29).
The Thai fans can watch these games live on BG Sports YouTube channel – https://www.youtube.com/@bgsports-official
ESPN
In September 2021, AFC signed a media rights partnership with ESPN for the Latin America, Central America and non-exclusively in the Caribbean to broadcast AFC competitions for the 2021-2024 cycle.
“The agreement includes all major AFC national team and club competitions, including but not limited to the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™, the AFC Asian Cup China 2023™, as well as the AFC Champions League™ and AFC Cup™ from the 2021 season, the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022™, AFC Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Paris 2024, among many others.”
The renewed deal will cover “the AFC Asian Qualifiers™, the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™, AFC Champions League Elite™ and AFC Champions League Two™, which are set to be broadcast on ESPN’s platforms, including ESPN on Disney+. “
MNC
The media rights coverage holds for territories of Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste and will cover broadcast for “all major AFC National Team competitions within the cycle, including the AFC Asian Qualifiers™ – Road to 26, the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™, the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™, the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026™ and 2028 and others.”
The coverage will also include the revamped competitions – the AFC Champions League Elite, the AFC Women’s Champions League and the AFC Champions League Two.
Sportdigital
In September 2020, AFC announced a partnership with German Sports media broadcaster Sportdigital for covering AFC Competitions for the 2021-2024 cycle to be broadcasted in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
The agreement included all major AFC Competitions namely – the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 26, the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027, AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Champions League Two, the AFC U23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 and 2028, and the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026.
“Matches will either be broadcast through Sportdigital’s television channels, Sportdigital FUSSBALL and Sportdigital FUSSBALL 2, or their digital services, SCOOORE! and Sportdigital+.”
Migu
This collaboration will see Migu deliver AFC competitions’ broadcast coverage to people in China PR through its online platform Migu Video.
