Humanoid Robots Compete in Soccer Match in China

(MENAFN) In a groundbreaking development, humanoid robots powered by artificial intelligence participated in the first-ever fully autonomous 5v5 soccer match, held during the preliminaries of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing.

According to a state-affiliated publication, this event marked a significant leap from earlier editions, which had been limited to 3v3 matchups.

In this new format, each squad consisted of five robotic players — two attackers, two defenders, and one goalkeeper.

The robots autonomously positioned themselves at the start and engaged in the game by passing, defending, shooting, and tackling — all without any human interference.

While some robots fell after collisions, they were able to quickly get back on their feet and resume play.

Spectators celebrated enthusiastically with each goal scored.

The match was played over a 40-minute period, divided into two 15-minute halves, with a 10-minute intermission in between.

The tournament’s regulations are detailed in a comprehensive guide spanning nearly 70 pages.

Though the structure mirrors human soccer, the rules have been tailored for robotic gameplay.

These include increased allowances for physical interaction and provisions such as a mandatory 10-second delay after free kicks, ensuring the AI has enough time to process and carry out strategies.

Kicking off on Thursday, the World Humanoid Robot Games are set to run for three days in Beijing.

The event has drawn participation from more than 500 robots, representing 280 teams across 16 different nations.

In total, there are 538 scheduled competitions spread over 26 disciplines, including soccer, athletics, and gymnastics.

This major event comes on the heels of China’s first AI-driven 3v3 robot soccer match, which took place in Beijing on June 27.

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