China hosts world’s first AI robot football match and it was chaos

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The world’s inaugural AI-controlled football match took place in China, featuring robot players shaped like humans competing against each other in an unprecedented 3-on-3 encounter.

In Beijing, a unique match took place where four university-built robots competed without any human intervention. The dribbling, shooting, and even goal celebrations were all controlled by AI embedded within them, with no external instructions given. There were just six miniature robots on the field, propelled by real-time thinking capabilities, aiming to achieve great victories.

Indeed, the only aspect involving humans in this scenario was the referee and the spectators, who watched with enthusiasm as the two robot teams clumsily navigated the field, much like tipsy toddlers might (it wasn’t meant to be elegant).

Despite not matching the speed and precision of humans, the game provided many amusing moments. Robots often stumbled over each other while attempting to handle the ball, and one unforgettable instance occurred when a robot controlled by artificial intelligence was carried off the field on a stretcher.

China hosts first-ever robot football match

In the end, just a single champion emerged, with Tsinghua University’s team triumphing over China Agricultural University’s team 5-3 in the concluding match, causing great excitement among the spectators.

Although the robotic prodigies didn’t have a post-game chat, Cheng Hao, founder of Booster Robotics, shared the rationale for his advanced football game with the Global Times.

Cheng explained that we selected a football game as the basis for our robot competition mainly in two aspects: initially, to motivate students to utilize their algorithmic abilities in practical robotics; secondly, to exhibit the robots’ capability to walk independently, handle collisions, and display advanced intelligence and safety features.

In football, we see a blend of competition and teamwork that mirrors the real-life capabilities of humanoid robots. This sport offers a relatable example of how these robots might be used in our everyday lives.

Introducing: China’s debut of a humanoid robot soccer league in Beijing, offering an exciting twist on traditional soccer!

The AI-driven robots participating in this tournament are provided by Booster Robotics and possess the abilities of children aged between 5 to 6 years old.

During the event, it was not uncommon to see these mechanical marvels demonstrating various agile moves!

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 1, 2025

Generally speaking, although a few incidents of clashing occurred, the new generation of soccer players were able to handle both the natural opponents on the field and their robotic counterparts. This was possible due to the fact that each robot was outfitted with visual sensors, predictive software, and dynamic stabilization systems.

In terms of goal-scoring prowess and agility on the field, they’re not in the same league as Ronaldo or Messi. However, the organizer of this event, Bian Yuansong, expressed optimism about the future of robotics in sports, hinting at promising developments ahead.

For the upcoming period, our aim is to create several intellectual properties based on robotics competitions. These will feature events like the Humanoid Robot Half-Marathon and ‘Mech League.’ Our goal is to speed up the practical use and widespread acceptance of advanced humanoid robotic technology in everyday life by organizing these events.

The football game serves as the newest installment in China’s ongoing efforts to dominate the field of robotics and artificial intelligence. This year alone, they hosted the world’s inaugural robot combat competition in Hangzhou, and have introduced autonomous vehicles on roads within various urban areas.

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2025-07-02 16:49