Sports media giants Dentsu enters into agreement with AFC

Avatar

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have announced a commercial agreement with sports media giants Dentsu which will see the agency become the exclusive marketer of the AFC’s commercial properties in Japan.

Dentsu Inc. is the number one advertising and media agency headquartered in Japan with a far-reaching global network that provides support for marketing, business DX and growth strategy formulation to the biggest brands around the world and in football.

The agreement comprises the AFC’s major national team and club competitions, including Asia’s flagship competitions national team competitions – the AFC Asian Qualifiers – the road to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the AFC Asian Cup China 2023, the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022 and the continent’s premier club competition – The AFC Champions League.

A new deal being struck continues the long and successful relationship between the AFC and Dentsu Inc., who have represented the AFC and managed its commercial rights exclusively in Japan over the last two decades.

AFC General Secretary Dato’ Windsor John acknowledged the exciting opportunities that the continued agreement offers the AFC.

“The AFC is delighted to welcome Dentsu Inc. to the ever-growing family of commercial partners for the 2021-24 period, as our exclusive commercial agency in Japan,” he said.

“Japan are one of the most successful footballing nations in both the men’s and women’s game, not only in Asia, but also across the globe. This is a significant agreement that paves the way for millions of passionate fans in Japan to access and engage with the AFC’s world-class competitions.

“We are thankful to Dentsu Inc. for their continued investment in Asian football, and with their extensive background and long history in marketing football in Asia and Japan, we are confident that they will play a pivotal role in driving the interest and consumption of Asia’s finest competitions amongst one of the most passionate fan bases across the Continent.”

Football Marketing Asia (FMA) remains the AFC’s exclusive agency for all commercial rights worldwide, excluding Japan and (in relation to the sale of media rights) the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Previous ArticleNext Article

Female Football Week kicks off across Northern NSW

Avatar
Image Credit: Shutterstock

Female Football Week has officially begun across Northern NSW, with a program of gala days, networking events and awards ceremonies running until Sunday May 17, marking a ten-day celebration that organisers say reflects both the growth of women’s football in the region and the work still required to sustain it.

The national initiative, now a fixture on the football calendar, provides a dedicated period of visibility for female participants across all levels of the game from players, coaches, referees to volunteers, whose contributions have historically received less recognition than their male counterparts.

NNSWF Participation and Women’s Football Officer Serena Carter said the week offered something for everyone connected to women’s football in the region.

“Female Football Week provides a fantastic chance to highlight the dedication and skill of female players, coaches, referees and volunteers across the northern NSW community,” Carter said. “There’s something for everyone to enjoy, from grassroots participants to elite competitors.”

Women’s football in northern NSW spans remote and regional communities where clubs operate on limited resources, alongside more established metropolitan programs with clearer development pathways. Female Football Week creates a moment of shared recognition across that spectrum and acknowledges the role volunteers play, from running the canteen to progressing through the pathway.

Northern NSW Football has recorded some of its strongest participation numbers in women’s and girls’ football in recent seasons, a trend that has placed increasing pressure on clubs and facilities to keep pace. The week’s events offer clubs an opportunity to showcase their commitment to diversity and inclusion at a time when that commitment is being tested by growth.

Football NNSW Releases Infrastructure Strategies as Participation Growth Outpaces Facilities

Avatar
Image Credit: Shutterstock

Northern NSW Football has unveiled bespoke infrastructure strategies for each of its seven member zones, providing an evidence-based roadmap for facility investment across the region as continued participation growth exposes critical gaps in the sporting infrastructure available to support it.

The Member Zone Infrastructure Strategies draw on data across participation rates, population growth and existing facility conditions to map what each zone has, what it needs and where investment will have the greatest impact. Identified gaps include drainage, lighting and inclusive changerooms – the foundational infrastructure that determines whether facilities are functional, safe and accessible year-round.

NNSWF Government Relations Manager Gary Fisher said the strategies represented a significant step toward smarter, more targeted investment across the region.

“By bringing together key data on participation, population growth and existing infrastructure, these strategies give us a stronger understanding of where the needs are greatest and where investment will have the most impact,” Fisher said. “Ultimately we want to create more inclusive and accessible environments for everyone involved in the game while building stronger, more sustainable clubs and communities for the future.”

Northern NSW Football has previously noted that participation across the region is at record levels and still rising, with women’s and girls’ football a significant driver of that growth. Infrastructure that was built for a smaller and less diverse participation base is increasingly unable to meet current demand, let alone accommodate future growth.

The strategies are also designed to strengthen NNSWF’s alignment with government funding priorities, providing the evidence base needed to support grant applications and long-term facility planning across all seven zones.

Most Popular Topics

Editor Picks

Send this to a friend