While there hasn’t been much enthusiasm around the Chinese men’s soccer team lately, humanoid robots have captured hearts in Beijing. Fans are drawn more by the advanced technology than any on-field skills.
Over the weekend, four teams took part in an exciting 3-on-3 soccer showdown featuring completely autonomous robots, showcasing what could be a glimpse into the future sport. This event in China’s capital serves as a precursor to the upcoming World Humanoid Robot Games, set for Beijing.
The organizers highlighted that the robots were fully autonomous, utilizing AI rules and strategies, with no human assistance during the matches.
These robots came with sophisticated sensors that allowed them to track the ball and maneuver across the field deftly. They could get up on their own after falling, although some required assistance from staff, which made the event feel quite realistic.
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Teams using autonomous T1 robots from Booster Robotics compete in the inaugural RoBoLeague robot soccer competition held in Beijing, Saturday, June 28, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan
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The human members of Team THU celebrate with their trophy near a T1 robot from Booster Robotics used during the inaugural RoBoLeague robot soccer competition held in Beijing, Saturday, June 28, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan
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Workers carry out a T1 robot from Booster Robotics during the inaugural RoBoLeague robot soccer competition held in Beijing, Saturday, June 28, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan
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A T1 robot from Booster Robotics demonstrates kicking a soccer ball at a fair ahead of the inaugural RoBoLeague robot soccer competition held in Beijing, Saturday, June 28, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan
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Teams prepare to compete during the inaugural RoBoLeague robot soccer competition using autonomous T1 robots from Booster Robotics in Beijing, Saturday, June 28, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan
China is intensifying its focus on developing AI-based robots, with sports competitions like soccer, boxing, and marathons serving as testing grounds.
Cheng Hao, the CEO of Booster Robotics, the company that made the robots, mentioned that such contests are excellent for refining both the software and hardware used in robots.
He also made a point about safety, stating it’s crucial for humanoid robots. “In the future, we might have robots playing alongside humans. Ensuring safety is key,” Cheng explained. “We could set up games where winning isn’t the focus but where robots interact with humans to build trust.”
Booster Robotics provided the robots for all four competing university teams, while each team’s researchers created unique algorithms for the robots’ decision-making and strategies, considering aspects like speed and direction.
In the final match, Tsinghua University’s THU Robotics team came out on top, beating the team from China Agricultural University with a score of 5–3 to claim the championship.
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Cheerleaders perform between matches near T1 robots from Booster Robotics at the inaugural RoBoLeague robot soccer competition held in Beijing, Saturday, June 28, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan
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Teams compete using the T1 robots from Booster Robotics during the inaugural RoBoLeague robot soccer competition held in Beijing, Saturday, June 28, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan
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Teams using autonomous T1 robots from Booster Robotics compete in the inaugural RoBoLeague robot soccer competition held in Beijing, Saturday, June 28, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan
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A child stops a shot from the T1 robot from Booster Robotics at a fair ahead of the inaugural RoBoLeague robot soccer competition held in Beijing, Saturday, June 28, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan
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Workers carry out a T1 robot from Booster Robotics during the inaugural RoBoLeague robot soccer competition held in Beijing, Saturday, June 28, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan
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Teams using autonomous T1 robots from Booster Robotics compete in the inaugural RoBoLeague robot soccer competition held in Beijing, Saturday, June 28, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan
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Girls react to the T1 robot from Booster Robotics after the inaugural RoBoLeague robot soccer competition held in Beijing, Saturday, June 28, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan
Mr. Wu, a supporter of the winning Tsinghua team, praised both their performance and that of their competitors. “They (THU) were fantastic,” he remarked. “But the Mountain Sea team from Agricultural University also surprised us with their skills.”
Notably, the Chinese men’s team has had only one World Cup appearance and is already out of next year’s tournament in North America.
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