Volleyball World today announces ACN Group, Japan’s leading holistic solution consulting company, as Title Partner of the men's and women's VNL (Volleyball Nations League) 2026 events taking place at Asue Arena Osaka, further strengthening the company's commitment to supporting world-class sport in Japan.
The partnership sees ACN become the title partner of both events, with the brand integrated across the full competition experience. In addition to prominent venue branding and logo visibility throughout Asue Arena Osaka, ACN will feature through dedicated in-arena activations, including branded set-break entertainment and fan engagement moments. The partnership also extends to Volleyball World’s digital platforms, with ACN integrated into VBTV coverage, reaching audiences around the world.
The VNL volleyball's premier annual international competition featuring the world's leading national teams, continues to attract growing audiences around the world. ACN's partnership further highlights the commercial strength of volleyball in Japan and the growing interest from leading domestic brands.
Japan continues to be one of volleyball's most important global markets, ranking among the sport's leading television audiences worldwide. VNL events in Japan have attracted more spectators than any other host market across the last three editions of the competition, with attendance increasing by 38% between 2023 and 2025 and the 2025 event in Chiba generating an estimated economic impact of more than US$52 million. Demand has remained strong across multiple host cities, with every VNL match featuring Japan’s men’s or women’s national teams on home soil sold out since 2022, and all eight Japan matches at Osaka 2026 already sold out in record time.
Oliver Clarke, Chief Partnerships Officer at Volleyball World, said:
"We are delighted to welcome ACN Group as Title Partner of the men's and women's VNL events in Osaka. Japan remains one of the most significant markets in world volleyball, and partnerships with leading Japanese companies are central to our ambitions for the sport's continued growth in the country.”
Marcelo Hargreaves da Costa, Chief Product Officer at Volleyball World, added:
“As the VNL continues to evolve, we are focused on creating a more connected and engaging experience for fans, both in the arena and across our digital platforms. Technology plays an increasingly important role in how audiences discover, follow and engage with sport, and we see strong alignment between ACN's expertise and our ambition. We are excited to be working with ACN to deliver memorable events in Osaka while continuing to strengthen the VNL's connection with volleyball fans across the country.”
