Molten to Supply Official Match Ball for the AFC Asian Qualifiers Road to Qatar

Molten to Supply Official Match Ball for the AFC Asian Qualifiers Road to Qatar

Molten to Supply Official Match Ball
for the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar

Molten Corporation (Headquarters: Nishi-ku, Hiroshima City, Japan; President and CEO: Kiyo Tamiaki), a manufacturer of competition quality sports balls and equipment, will provide the official match ball for the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar hosted by the Asian Football Confederation (hereinafter AFC; headquarters: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; President: Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa). With the supply of the match balls, Molten brand balls will be used in club competitions, including the Asian Champions League 2021 and the AFC Cup 2021.

Molten's flagship model, the Vantaggio 5000 AFC, will be the official match ball for the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar and will be used in all the games played from September 2021 to March 2022.

Kiyo Tamiaki, president & CEO of Molten Corporation, commented:

We are thrilled that Molten balls will be used in Asia's top-level competition, the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar. Molten continues to develop and provide the absolute highest quality products with technological innovation for the greater football community to fulfill the brand statement “For the real game”. We will continue to demonstrate our commitment to excellence and contribute to the continued success of the Asian Football.

1. Design

The official ball was developed based on the Molten's flagship football model, the Vantaggio 5000, and designed using the AFC's logo colors of blue and yellow.

2. ACENTEC structure

Molten’s unique thermal bonding technology produces a smooth, seamless cover that cannot be accomplished by hand sewing. The result is uniform surface and reduced water absorption, ensuring exceptional performance that is not affected by weather conditions.

3. Improved flight stability

The new surface finish and texture have improved the flight of the ball, allowing players to elevate their game with more accurate passing and shooting.

4. Adopting new valve

Adopting a new valve reduces friction (40% compared to the current Vantaggio model) when inflating the ball, making it more resistant to damage.
Note : Apply a lubricant such as glycerin (or soapy water) to the pump needle when inflating the ball.

Scheduled events

- AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar September 2021 to March 2022

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 and the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, which are the flagship Continental national team competitions, while the AFC Champions League is the premier competition for Asian clubs, drawing millions of fans to the beautiful game across the length and breadth of the Continent and beyond.

About Molten

Molten, a manufacturer of balls and sports equipment, has been making and marketing basketballs, handballs, soccer balls, and volleyballs, of uncompromising quality since 1958. Molten continues to raise global standards, supplying the official game balls and sports equipment for major leagues, teams and international tournaments around the world.
For further information, please visit https://www.molten.co.jp/sports/en/

For the real game

Molten's brand statement, "For the real game", encapsulates what we hope to accomplish through our products and activities. It is our conviction that the real game happens only when impeccable balls and sports equipment enable athletes to realize their full potential and maximize performance.