Government and Football Association Discuss Free-to-Air ASEAN Cup Final Broadcast

Following public criticism regarding the lack of free-to-air coverage for the 2026 ASEAN Cup, Nualphan Lamsam, President of the Football Association of Thailand, has met with Minister of Tourism and Sports Surasak Charoenphanworakul to discuss broadcasting the final match on national television.

Currently, TrueVisions holds the exclusive rights to the tournament, offering matches via their 'TrueVisions Now' application for a monthly fee of 199 baht. Nualphan noted that because TrueVisions has already sold subscription packages to customers, the company must carefully consider its obligations to those subscribers before agreeing to release the rights for free-to-air broadcast. She has initiated discussions with Ong-ard Prapakamol, head of TrueVisions and Media at True Corporation, who is currently consulting with company executives for a final decision.

For residents and visitors, this development is significant as it highlights the ongoing debate regarding access to national sporting events. While the government views the broadcast as a way to inspire the public and support the national team, the outcome remains uncertain. Minister Surasak indicated that the government aims to establish a plan for future national team support through the National Sports Development Fund. As of now, fans must wait for a formal response from TrueVisions to see if the final will be accessible beyond the paid application.