Get Ready for 'Foot Volleyball': Teqball Debuts at Asian Games, Korean Team Aims for Gold

A new sport combining soccer and table tennis, known as Teqball, will make its official debut at the upcoming 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan. This marks a significant milestone for the sport, which was conceived just 14 years ago.

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Teqball players will feel both familiarity and novelty when they watch it. We will challenge for the championship title of the first Asian Games.

The Korean national Teqball team, comprising athletes Lee Jun-seok, Lee Tae-bin, Kim Eun-jun, and Jang Eun-seo, recently showcased their skills at a training facility in Icheon. The team expressed their determination to challenge for the championship title in the inaugural Asian Games appearance. They anticipate that spectators will find the sport both familiar and novel, given its unique blend of elements from popular games.

Teqball is played on a curved table, approximately 3 meters long, with players using any part of their body except their hands and arms to hit a size 5 soccer ball over the net. The sport gained global traction after football stars like Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi, and Neymar were seen playing and promoting it. Many Korean national team members have backgrounds in soccer, foot volleyball, or sepak takraw, bringing diverse athletic experiences to the sport.

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Because the ball must be dropped onto a not-so-large table, delicate technique and ball control are important.

Despite its growing popularity, the Korean team faces challenges, including limited training facilities. They previously trained outdoors due to a lack of indoor venues and are now utilizing a facility in Icheon, though they must share it with local enthusiasts in the evenings. The athletes have made significant personal sacrifices, leaving stable jobs or other sports careers to pursue Teqball, driven by a strong desire to succeed and raise the sport's profile in Korea.

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We definitely want to win a medal and make our sport known.