Across the three club competitions, Visa will serve as the AFC’s global payment services partner. (Credit: AFC)

Global credit card giant Visa has extended its partnership with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to continue as a sponsor of the region’s top club competitions through 2029.

As part of the agreement, the brand will remain an official global supporter of the AFC Champions League Elite, second-tier AFC Champions League Two, and AFC Women's Champions League, spanning the 2026–2029 cycle.

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Across the three club competitions, Visa will serve as the AFC’s global payment services partner, with benefits including preferred card acceptance at the AFC Champions League Elite Finals and access to ticket pre-sale for Visa cardholders.

Visa will also deliver fan engagement opportunities across the three-year cycle, including access to the official coin toss, exclusive stadium experiences, and digital activations at selected matches.

The deal was brokered by Asia Football Group (AFG), the AFC’s exclusive commercial agency for the 2023-28 cycle. 

This tie-up builds on Visa’s role as an official global supporter of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup and this year’s AFC U23 Asian Cup, both taking place in Saudi Arabia.

The company also sponsored this year’s Women’s Asian Cup in Australia, which ran from March 1 to 26, and national team qualification matches for the 2026 World Cup in the AFC region.

The AFC first brought Visa on board as a regional partner in 2023, before expanding that to become an official global supporter for its club competitions in 2025.

Patrick Murphy, chief executive of Asia Football Group, said: “Visa's expansion into the AFC club competition portfolio is a natural extension of a partnership that has grown from strength to strength.

“Having Visa as our global payment services partner across the AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Champions League Two and AFC Women's Champions League adds real depth to the fan experience.”

The 2026-27 season of the AFC Champions League Elite began last month and will conclude with the final on May 1.