AFC locks in exclusive media rights deal with CBS Sports

The AFC has announced a multi-platform agreement with CBS Sports, making Paramount+ the exclusive home of AFC competitions in the US.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced a multi-platform agreement with CBS Sports, making Paramount+ the exclusive home of AFC competitions in the United States of America.

Coverage will start in September and run through to 2024. Paramount+ will stream AFC’s world-class competitions exclusively, including the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar Final Round, AFC Champions League, AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023.

Paramount+ will show live club and national team matches, between 2021 and 2024 – including coverage of the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar Final Round, where Asia’s top 12 nations compete to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Additionally, Paramount+ will cover the remainder of the 2021 AFC Champions League from the Knockout Stage matches through to the Final in November. The service becomes the home of the AFC Champions League each season through to 2024.

CBS Sports Digital will deliver extra coverage and original programming, featuring highlights across social channels and CBS Sports HQ, the 24/7 streaming sports news network.

AFC General Secretary Dato’ Windsor John:

“The AFC is delighted to enter into this partnership with CBS Sports, which represents another progressive step towards increasing the visibility and consumption of the AFC’s competitions beyond our Continent.

“We look forward to working with CBS Sports in growing the fanbase of the AFC’s world-class competitions in the vibrant North American market as well as in the AFC’s territories in Guam and Northern Mariana Islands and we thank them for believing in the future of Asian football.”

CBS Sports’ coverage of the upcoming AFC Women’s Asian Cup, that serves as the qualifiers for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia/New Zealand 2023, begins from 2022. Coverage of the AFC Asian Cup China 2023 begins in June that year. Additional broadcast details will be announced ahead of each respective competition.

Executive Vice President and General Manager, CBS Sports Digital, Jeffrey Gerttula:

“The addition of Asian Football further elevates our extensive lineup of live soccer coverage on Paramount+, highlighted by elite club competition and some of the top national teams across both the men’s and women’s international game.

“Offering matches from this expansive region provides even more value by delivering year-round soccer coverage at a time of day where the sport traditionally isn’t offered to American fans.”

Board Member and CEO at Football Marketing Asia (FMA), Patrick Murphy:

“We are thrilled to welcome CBS Sports to the family of AFC media partners. This partnership marks another important step on our mission to bring Asian football to ever bigger global audiences; hence we are proud to see the AFC’s national team and club competitions soon being available across the U.S. and Canada.

“We are looking forward to working with CBS Sports to provide an exciting experience for its viewers, and to continue to grow the audience of Asian football fans in North America.”

The agreement includes rights in Canada and Bermuda, as well as certain overseas US territories, such as the AFC Member Associations, Guam and Northern Mariana Islands.

Paramount+ is a leading destination for U.S. football fans, now featuring more than 1,600 live matches each year with the addition of AFC competitions.

The extensive portfolio of football properties now includes UEFA club competitions; NWSL; Concacaf national team competitions (Men’s World Cup Qualifiers, Women’s World Cup Qualifiers, Men’s Nations League, and Women’s Nations League); Italy’s Serie A; Argentina’s Liga Profesional de Fútbol; Brazil’s Campeonato Brasileirão Série A; and AFC competitions (AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar, AFC Champions League, AFC Women’s Asian Cup and AFC Asian Cup).

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Securing Our Football Future: Football Australia’s $3 Billion Plea

In a landmark display of solidarity, Australia’s football governing bodies have united to submit a joint, ambitious proposal to the government ahead of the next federal election, claiming that this proposal is crucial to ensuring the game’s survival.

The sport’s new national agenda, outlined in Securing Our Football Future, calls for more than $3 billion in funding at all governmental levels to cover urgent facilities improvements, grassroots growth, elite development, and Australia’s global aspirations.

The message is clear: without urgent and significant investment, football runs the risk of losing a generation of players at a time when participation in the sport is rising at an unprecedented rate in Australia, especially among women and girls.

A Blueprint for Sustainable Growth

At the centre of Football Australia’s recommendations is the urgent need to bridge the “change room facilities gap”, a rolling 10-year federal program totalling $1.56 billion. Despite football being one of the country’s most played club sports, many community facilities are still outdated, inaccessible, and unsuitable for the increasing number of female players.

Over the next five to ten years, the agenda also requests $1.2 billion from state, territory, and municipal governments to repair vital infrastructure, like drainage and lighting systems, which have been highlighted as significant obstacles to increasing participation in a safe and inclusive manner.

Other key proposals include:

  • $50 million investment in a new national football headquarters to house both Football Australia and the Australian Professional Leagues
  • Funding support for three new state football headquarters and upgrades to five existing ones
  • Backing the redevelopment of Perry Park in Brisbane as a key football venue ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games
  • $1 million seed funding for the launch of the Australian Championship, the long-awaited National Second Tier
  • Strengthened support for sports diplomacy, international tournament bids, and social programs linked to football’s community impact
  • Updates to regulatory frameworks, including visa categories for players, urban planning laws, and stadium policing standards

Grassroots Strain: Participation Outpacing Facilities

Following the Matildas’ historic FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign, grassroots participation has skyrocketed across the nation. However, the infrastructure required to sustain this expansion has fallen dangerously behind.

More than 2,000 community facilities are required to be upgraded, according to a detailed national audit conducted by Football Australia and the state federations. Of these, 7,848 proposed projects were needed to satisfy “minimum standard” requirements.

Football NSW CEO, John Tsatsimas, emphasised the urgency in New South Wales, where football has the greatest participation rates of any sport.

“Football is the most popular sport in New South Wales, yet many facilities are outdated. Investment in modern fields, lighting, and female-friendly amenities is essential to support our growing football community. Government funding will ensure safe, inclusive spaces for all players, driving participation and talent development,” he said via Securing Our Football Future.

The challenge is even more acute in Victoria, a state that is experiencing rapid population expansion in suburban corridors.

Football Victoria Acting CEO, Dan Birrell, warned that without immediate investment, the sport risks losing young players.

“Children are being turned away due to a lack of suitable playing fields and facilities. Government investment in modern, accessible pitches and club infrastructure is essential to creating more opportunities for children, fostering community connections, and ensuring football remains inclusive and accessible for all,” he said via Securing Our Football Future.

Strengthening the Domestic and International Game

The Securing Our Football Future agenda goes beyond community football to focus on the game’s larger ecosystem, from strengthening Australia’s standing on the international football scene to expanding the A-League.

In order to assist the league’s expansion and stability, key professional clubs, including Macarthur FC, Melbourne City, Melbourne Victory, Western Sydney Wanderers, and Perth Glory, have all pushed for regulatory changes. These include reforms to high-performance funding, simplified visa categories for foreign athletes, and urban development plans to promote improved access to stadiums and training facilities.

APL, Executive Chair, the Hon. Stephen Conroy, highlighted the importance of building on the momentum of the A-Leagues in showcasing local and international talent.

“Football infrastructure, facilities and stadia are not keeping pace with the huge grassroots participation, and the growing pathways and professional game in Australia. It’s hoped this initiative will help unlock the investment the participation base and potential of the game deserves,” he said via Securing Our Football Future.

Meanwhile, the establishment of the Australian Championship — a brand-new National Second Tier league — is seen as a vital component that will provide a direct pathway between grassroots and professional football.

At the elite level, continued support for the Subway Socceroos and CommBank Matildas is still essential, as is deliberate funding for initiatives like Bridge to the World, which aim to give Australian players additional opportunities abroad.

A Critical Moment

Although several members of the football community applauded the federal government’s recent $200 million grants program called Play Our Way, leaders contend that, especially considering the size of the participation surge, it does not adequately address the urgent needs of grassroots infrastructure.

Football Australia CEO James Johnson emphasised that the sport’s rapid growth must be matched by urgent infrastructure investment.

“Our surge in participation has put football at a tipping point where our growth is outpacing our infrastructure. All levels of government need to act to address the facilities gap to give grassroots players an opportunity to participate and support our current and emerging talent to compete on the world stage,” he said via Securing Our Football Future.

The message from football’s unified leadership is straightforward: the sport’s current momentum, which is based on generational accomplishments, runs the risk of halting without immediate, significant investment.

Securing Our Football Future provides a road map for not just preserving the game but also fulfilling its full potential as Australia’s inclusive, diverse, and grassroots global sport.

The time to act is now.

To read through the full Securing Our Football Future 2025 policy proposals, click here.

Competing Football Promises as Election Day Approaches

Matildas vs France Women's World Cup

This Saturday the Australian public will shape the future of the nation when they head to the polls to vote in the 2025 Federal election.

Another factor that could sway some voters is the promises made by the major parties to support local sports clubs and reserves, especially those focused on football.

The Albanese Labor Government has already made major strides when it comes to funding the future of soccer in this nation, particularly for women’s and girl’s involvement.

On the back of a successful FIFA women’s World Cup campaign on home soil which saw the Matildas make it to the Semi-Final, the Albanese Government announced the “Play Our Way” program.

This program would provide greater opportunities for women and girls to access, participate and remain involved in sport and physical activity.

Women and girls in Australia are under-represented in sport and physical activity, so, the Play Our Way program will support and provide more opportunities for equal participation in sport and physical activity, as well as access to sporting facilities, equipment and initiatives.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese highlighted the importance of the program.

“The Matildas have given us a moment of national inspiration, this is about seizing that opportunity for the next generation, investing in community sporting facilities for women and girls around Australia,” he said in a press release.

“Sport is a great unifier and a great teacher – it brings communities together, it teaches us about teamwork and resilience and the joy of shared success.

“We want women and girls everywhere in Australia to have the facilities and the support to choose a sport they love.”

The Australian government has provided $200 million for the Play Our Own program which will run over three years from 2024-25 to 2026-27.

Looking ahead, Labor has made several commitments to supporting the growth of football across the country.

One example is the pledge to commit $1.2 million to upgrade soccer facilities in Creswick and Daylesford if the Federal Labor Government is re-elected.

In April, Catherine King, the Member for Ballarat, announced that the funding promise will go towards upgrades at Victoria Park in Daylesford and the Doug Lindsay Recreation Reserve in Creswick.

According to Ms King, the Daylesford and Hepburn United Soccer Club has around 150 players, including 40 female players, and has been forced to cap its intake because current pitches cannot accommodate this growth.

Labor’s pledge will help rectify this issue as well as create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all women and girls. 

Other pledges by Labor include $10 million towards a new mini stadium for Melbourne City FC, facility upgrades at Alamein FC/ Ashburton SC, $3.5 million towards female-friendly facilities at St Albans Saints FC, and more.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Party has also pledged strong support for the future of the sport, promising funding if elected.

One notable example is the party’s pledge to commit $2 million to upgrade Heidelberg United Alexander FC facilities should it win the federal election.

In April, Liberal candidate Chris Parr made the announcement in the Jagajaga electorate, joined by local MP Keith Wolahan and Senator James Paterson.

The funding will go towards major improvements to the club’s facilities, including a new Olympic Museum, bigger training areas, more open green space, and larger clubrooms to better serve the growing community.

The announcement has been seen as a big win for local families, sports lovers, and volunteers, with the Coalition highlighting its commitment to supporting communities by working closely with local groups and the Banyule City Council.

Another notable pledge by the Liberal Party is to upgrade Devlins Road Recreation Reserve in Ocean Grove.

In March 2025, the Liberal Party confirmed that the first stage of the upgrade would receive $5 million if the Coalition wins the federal election.

This project would bring new soccer fields with lighting and fencing, a pavilion, and a new home for the Surfside Waves Soccer Club, establishing a permanent base for junior soccer and other sports at the reserve.

However, in the following month, the Albanese Labor government pledged to match the election promise made by the Coalition meaning the first stage of the Devlins Road Reserve upgrade in Ocean Grove will get a $5 million kickstart regardless of which party forms the government next month.

This is just one of many instances where both parties have clashed over election commitments to local clubs and reserves, with other examples including FC Eaglehawk, Dwyer Street Reserve, Phillip Island Soccer Club just to name a few.

According to Football Victoria, the 2025 federal election has resulted in a total funding commitment value of $93,560,000 in just the state alone.

So, as Australians head to the polls, it’s clear that the battle for votes extends beyond national issues, with local football sports funding emerging as a key play in shaping community support.

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