The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) regional soccer governing body has announced its major competitions will be aired by US network CBS Sports until 2028 through a new rights deal covering the US and its territories.
The multi-platform agreement will see CBS Sports provide live English-language coverage for all games during the men’s AFC Asian Cup 2027 and the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2028 national team tournaments via streaming service Paramount+.
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Select matches will also air across the CBS Sports Network cable channel and the free-to-air CBS Sports Golazo Network, with the deal covering the US and its territories, including Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.
The AFC Asian Cup 2027, featuring 24 national teams, is due to run from January 7 to February 5 in Saudi Arabia.
AFC general secretary Seri Windsor John said: “Our partnership with CBS Sports accelerates our mission to bring Asian football to a global audience. As the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 demonstrates, the US is a rapidly expanding football market.
“The AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 promises to be our best edition yet, and with the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics on the horizon, we are confident Paramount+ and CBS Sports will deliver world-class coverage, bringing the passion and drama of the AFC’s premier national team competitions to millions of fans across the US.”
The deal was brokered by the Asia Football Group (AFG), which is the exclusive commercial partner of the AFC for the 2023 to 2028 rights cycle. AFC took over the body’s media and sponsorship rights after the AFC terminated its deal with Football Marketing Asia in 2023.
The new agreement builds on CBS’s previous coverage of AFC competitions, which saw it broadcast several major competitions between 2021 and 2024, including the 2021 AFC Champions League, the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022, and the AFC Asian Cup 2023.
Dan Weinberg, executive vice president of programming at CBS Sports, said: “CBS Sports is proud to showcase the AFC action across our platforms, as these elite Asian nations continue to make their mark on football's biggest Continental stage.
“Paramount+ is the premier and must-have destination for soccer fans in this country, and the addition of both high-stakes tournaments provides even more value to subscribers.”
The new rights deal comes shortly after the AFC secured a renewal of its broadcast partnership with Malaysian pay-TV broadcaster Astro, which retains rights to the AFC’s portfolio of men’s and women’s club and national team competitions through the 2028-29 campaign.
The agreement also continues the AFC’s recent run of commercial deals for its flagship men’s 2027 Asia Cup, most recently adding the Saudi-based fast-food restaurant Albaik, Alrajhi Bank, and Aramco as sponsors.
