Nagoya, Japan, September 8, 2026: One of the greatest defenders in modern football history, Carles Puyol, is heading to Aichi-Nagoya for the 20th Asian Games.
The former Spain and Barcelona captain will be in Nagoya to promote teqball – one of the fastest growing sports in the world which is making its Asian Games debut at Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
Puyol, now 48, is due to arrive in Nagoya on the morning of Saturday, September 19. He will attend an OCA reception in the afternoon before going to the Asian Games opening ceremony at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in the evening.
The following day he will meet the Asian Games social media influencers and also visit the Athletes’ Village.
In the afternoon he will call in at a local school and play football and teqball with the young students before attending a press conference at Nagoya City Higashi Sports Centre, where the five finals of the teqball competition will be held. Puyol will engage with fans in between the finals.
In the evening he will present the teqball medals along with the OCA President, HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani.
On Monday, September 21, Puyol will head to Tokyo with IOC President Kirsty Coventry and attend the swimming finals at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.
Puyol played his entire career for Barcelona, winning 18 major club titles including six La Liga trophies and three UEFA Champions Leagues.
The captain and centre back also won the World Cup in 2010 and Euro 2008 in an international career that saw him earn 100 caps for Spain.