AIPS ASIA News:

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and global sports equipment manufacturer Molten, Official Global Partner of the AFC’s national team and club competitions, have unveiled today the Official Match Ball that will be used exclusively for the AFC Asian Qualifiers™ – Road to 26, taking place from September 2, 2024 to November 18, 2025.

Molten will supply the “AFC Asian Qualifiers™ – Road to 26” model of their 5th generation Vantaggio for the highly anticipated decisive stages of the Confederation’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers, which is set to feature the Continent’s top 18 national teams.

Molten has developed the high-quality ball using partially recycled materials, ensuring durability and sustainability while adhering to world class standards.

Based on the logo of the AFC Asian Qualifiers™, the design integrates the official colours to give the ball a dynamic and modern look that reflects the diversity and excitement of Asian football. The silver lines making up the base design, which are based on the rapid movement of players on the football pitch, were added to give the ball an energetic feel.

Datuk Seri Windsor John, the AFC General Secretary, said: “The AFC Asian Qualifiers™ – Road to 26 is set to be a thrilling showcase of the best of Asian football and we are delighted that Molten, with their proven expertise in delivering top-quality match balls, will enhance the excitement and standards of the high-intensity matches.

“The AFC has enjoyed a longstanding relationship with Molten, a trusted partner that has supplied match balls for the numerous world-class AFC competitions, and we are confident that both our teams and passionate spectators will benefit from this fruitful collaboration.”

Kiyo Tamiaki, President & CEO of Molten Corporation, said: “Molten feels very privileged to have the opportunity to provide the official game ball for the AFC Asian Qualifiers™- Road to 26. The ball design represents the AFC Member Associations competing to secure their spot for the FIFA World Cup 2026. We believe that through this tough competition, Asian football will continue to improve and drive the level of competition even higher. Molten is committed to continue manufacturing innovative products with the highest quality, combined with the mission to further support the development of football in Asia.”

Created to be adaptable to Asia’s diverse climates and landscapes, it also features improved heat resistance, making the ball more resistant to peeling and enabling it to be used in the best condition for a long time. In addition, the ball has low water absorption properties, thus providing peak performance even under rainy conditions to ensure a better playing experience for players.

About the AFC
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is the governing body of Asian football and one of the six Confederations making up FIFA. Established in 1954, the AFC is headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and comprises 47 Member Associations.

The AFC organises the AFC Asian Cup™, the AFC Women’s Asian Cup™ and the AFC Futsal Asian Cup™ which are the flagship Continental national team football and futsal competitions, while the AFC Champions League Elite™ and AFC Women’s Champions League™ are the premier competitions for Asian clubs, drawing millions of fans to the beautiful game across the length and breadth of the Continent and beyond.

About Molten
Molten is a manufacturer of competition quality sports balls and equipment since 1958, and has been manufacturing and selling game balls for basketball, handball, soccer, and volleyball based on uncompromising quality. Molten creates the official game balls and other innovative products such as sports equipment that are used in international competitions, world’s top leagues and teams, and continues to increase the level of quality as the global standard. Please visit our website for more details.

About Asia Football Group
Asia Football Group (AFG) is the exclusive commercial agency for the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) competitions from 2023-2028. AFG’s partnership with the AFC covers the commercial rights for all major AFC National Team and Club competitions, including the AFC Asian Cup™, AFC Asian Qualifiers™, AFC Women’s Asian Cup™, AFC Women’s Olympic Qualifiers, AFC Champions League Elite™, AFC Champions League Two™ as well as AFC youth and futsal competitions.

Courtesy AFC