Visa Expands AFC Partnership to Support Asia’s Top Club Competitions Through 2029. Visa has expanded its partnership with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), becoming an Official Global Supporter of three of Asia’s leading club football competitions through 2029.

The AFC announced the worldwide partnership on October 5, 2026, covering the AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Champions League Two and AFC Women’s Champions League throughout the 2026–2029 cycle.

The agreement extends Visa’s existing relationship with the AFC and is designed to support fan access and payment experiences around major club competitions across Asia.

Visa Extends Its Relationship With the AFC

The new agreement builds on Visa’s previous partnerships with the AFC.

Visa was previously named an Official Global Supporter of several AFC competitions, including the AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Champions League Two and AFC Women’s Champions League for earlier seasons.

The latest agreement extends that relationship into the next club-competition cycle. The partnership gives Visa a global supporter position across three of the AFC’s principal club tournaments.

Three Major AFC Club Competitions Covered

The partnership covers the AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Champions League Two and AFC Women’s Champions League.

The AFC Champions League Elite is the confederation’s premier men’s club competition, bringing together leading clubs from across Asia.

Secondly, the AFC Champions League Two provides another continental competition for clubs from AFC member associations.

The AFC Women’s Champions League is the confederation’s leading women’s club competition. Together, the competitions provide Visa with a presence across both men’s and women’s elite club football in Asia.

Partnership Covers the 2026 to 2029 Cycle

The agreement runs across the 2026–2029 cycle. This means Visa’s support will extend across multiple seasons rather than being limited to a single tournament.

The timing also coincides with the AFC’s broader development of its club competition structure and commercial programme.

The AFC has been expanding the reach and commercial profile of its club competitions, with the Champions League Elite in particular recording significant audience and commercial growth in the 2024/25 season.

Visa to Support Fan Access and Payment Experiences

According to the AFC, Visa will bring its global payment-services expertise to the competitions. The partnership is intended to help enhance convenience and accessibility for fans attending and following AFC club competitions.

Visa’s involvement can also provide opportunities for promotional and fan-engagement activities connected with matchdays and tournaments.

The AFC described the agreement as an extension of Visa’s commitment to supporting football and improving experiences for fans across the continent.

AFC Club Football Continues to Attract Global Commercial Partners

The agreement comes as Asian club football continues to attract major international brands. The AFC’s commercial programme has expanded alongside the growing reach of its competitions.

According to the AFC’s 2026 activity report, the 2024/25 AFC Champions League Elite was broadcast across 147 territories and countries and generated a cumulative audience of 258 million.

The competition’s cumulative reach reached 910.9 million, while the number of sponsors increased by 83 per cent year-on-year. These figures underline the growing commercial value of the AFC’s club competitions.

Visa Has Also Supported AFC National-Team Competitions

Visa’s relationship with the AFC extends beyond club football. In January 2026, the AFC announced Visa as an Official Global Supporter of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 and the AFC U23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026.

That agreement expanded Visa’s involvement into two major men’s national-team competitions.

Visa also became an Official Global Supporter of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026 in a separate agreement announced in July 2025.

The latest club partnership therefore forms part of a wider commercial relationship between the payment company and Asian football’s governing body.

AFC Women’s Champions League Gains Continued Commercial Support

The inclusion of the AFC Women’s Champions League is also significant as the competition continues to develop. The women’s tournament is part of the AFC’s broader effort to expand the profile and commercial opportunities available in women’s club football.

Visa’s continued presence across the competition provides additional international brand exposure for the women’s tournament alongside the two men’s club competitions.

Asian Club Football Enters a New Commercial Cycle

The new partnership begins during a period of continued expansion for Asian club football. The AFC has introduced a revamped club competition structure and has been developing its commercial and media partnerships around the new format.

The organisation’s commercial strategy is also looking ahead to future rights cycles, including the 2029–2036 period. The Visa agreement gives one of the world’s major payment companies a continued role in that evolving commercial landscape.

Visa Partnership Runs Through 2029

Visa will remain an Official Global Supporter of the AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Champions League Two and AFC Women’s Champions League throughout the 2026–2029 cycle.

For the AFC, the agreement strengthens its commercial partnership portfolio as the organisation continues to expand the global reach of its club competitions.

For Visa, the deal provides continued visibility across some of Asia’s biggest football competitions and access to fans across a large and diverse sporting market.

The partnership is expected to remain active through 2029 as Asian club football continues its commercial and international expansion.

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