AI-Driven Robots Compete in China’s Unique Football Showdown

The inaugural test event for the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games premiered with an innovative 3v3 AI soccer match in Beijing on Saturday night, as reported by CGTN.

Taking place at the Beijing Smart E-sports Event Center, this competition marked China’s first fully autonomous robotic soccer tournament and offered a glimpse into the upcoming World Humanoid Robot Games set to occur in the city.

This event follows the successful launch of the world’s first humanoid robot half-marathon held in April.

The RoBoLeague soccer showdown was a spectacular exhibition of cutting-edge robotic technology. Unlike traditional remote-controlled contests, the humanoid players employed exclusively AI-driven tactics without any human control or oversight.

They showcased real-time decision-making abilities, teamwork coordination, and even the capability to self-right after tumbles. Still, several players had to be carried off the field on stretchers by staff, lending a touch of realism to the event.

An enhanced penalty system minimized stoppages, enabling the 1.2 to 1.5-meter-tall robots to move fluidly and execute plays that mirrored human soccer strategies.

Four top teams progressed from the preliminary rounds to the finals. The Blaze Team from Beijing Information Science and Technology University dazzled with their agile evasive maneuvers.

Tsinghua University’s Power Intelligent Team distinguished itself with seamless communication protocols, ensuring precise passes. Meanwhile, the Mountain-Sea Team from China Agricultural University made its mark with an energy-efficient design that sustained consistent performance during the rigorous matches.

In the end, THU Robotics from Tsinghua University triumphed over the Mountain-Sea Team, winning the championship with a score of 5:3.

This soccer match built on the enthusiasm generated by April’s historic humanoid robot half-marathon, where 20 teams completed a 21.0975-kilometer course in Beijing’s Daxing District—an unprecedented achievement that underscored advancements in robotic endurance and adaptability.

The stage is now set for the 2025 World Robot Conference, which will take place from August 8 to 12 in Beijing.

Over 200 exhibitors are anticipated, featuring leading companies such as Unitree and AgiBot, showcasing their latest humanoid innovations.

The conference will also introduce significant reports, including the Top 10 Scenario Demands for Humanoid Robots 2025 and the Global Robot Partnership Initiative, aiming to establish benchmarks for the forthcoming decade.