Information that the leading organization in world football quoted a price of 3 million USD (about 75 billion VND) for the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 copyright can be likened to a shocking punch not only for television units. Although the promise is that with 12 teams, just participating will receive 125,000 USD, the first-place champion team will receive 1 million USD, and the second-place champion team will receive 300,000 USD.
Calculating the average copyright fee of 1.5 million USD/country - because there are high-priced markets, some places are lower, FIFA earns 18 million USD. Subtracting expenses and the total value of prizes - generously calculated at about 8 million USD, FIFA still holds back about 10 million USD.
That is the case where all 12 countries buy. The reality is much more fierce.
According to information from the Thai press, FIFA has reduced the asking price to 2.5 million USD. But even so, the question is which country buys when it is certain that the investment will be a loss? It is true that the whole tournament has 20 matches, but ask fans in Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, do they spend time sitting in front of the screen to watch 7 matches of Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Brunei and Hong Kong (China)?
Even the matches of other opponents in the same First Division group are not guaranteed to be watched.
FIFA does not explain why they rate the "potential" of this tournament so highly, but experts simply understand that just putting on the "FIFA" label is naturally valuable. That is a mistake. Or at least, FIFA has not really been deeply involved and understood the football situation in this region. After China refused to participate, India withdrew because it was busy playing a friendly match with Brazil (if they sold the copyright at a high price, they would probably buy it), the presence of Pakistan and possibly another mid-range representative of Asia is not a "delicious dish" attractive enough.
Organized for the first time, without experimentation, just labeled as an organization, FIFA is criticized as delusional, even greedy in the context that the President has been under a lot of pressure since the problems at the 2026 World Cup and the additional ideas afterwards.
The sparkling coat, in this case, does not hide anything inside but only makes the level of loss of affection rise faster.
