Andrés Iniesta of Spain tries out football five-a-side blindfolded for a promotional Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games promotional video ©Tokyo 2020

Former Spanish soccer star Andrés Iniesta has featured in a special Tokyo 2020 video to mark the launch of the ticket lottery for the Paralympic Games on August 22 and the one-year-to-go countdown to the Paralympic Games, due to begin on August 25 next year.

In the "Experience the Unbelievable" video, Iniesta, winner of the FIFA World Cup with Spain in 2010, is seen playing soccer blindfolded alongside members of Japan's football five-a-side team. 

Iniesta claimed two European Championship titles for his native Spain, while also winning four UEFA Champions League titles with FC Barcelona.

The Tokyo 2020 video sees Iniesta struggle to get to grips with his new experience as he is assisted by Japanese captain Ryo Kawamura.

Kawamura represented Japan at the 2014 Asian Para Games in Incheon and the International Blind Sports Federation Blind Football World Championship in 2014.

For Iniesta, who captains Vissel Kobe in the J1 League, the video was a worthwhile exercise.


"It was an amazing experience for me because I could spend time with these guys and see the great work they’re doing," he said. 

"It was really complicated to do. 

"It’s very difficult."

Football five-a-side is played by athletes with a vision impairment using a ball with a noise-making device inside.

Teams consist of four outfield players and one goalkeeper who can be fully- or partially sighted.

During play spectators are asked to remain silent, with players relying on silence to hear the ball moving.