AI Robots Lead First Fully Autonomous 5v5 Soccer

(MENAFN) Artificial intelligence-driven humanoid robots marked a major milestone by participating in the world’s first fully autonomous 5v5 soccer match during the preliminary rounds of the World Humanoid Robot Games, media reported.

While previous competitions had limited teams to 3v3 games, this year’s match introduced a new structure: two forwards, two defenders, and a goalkeeper per team. Once the match began, the robots autonomously positioned themselves and initiated gameplay, executing passes, tackles, and shots without human intervention.

Despite some robots toppling during physical encounters, they swiftly regained their footing and continued. Spectators responded with enthusiasm, cheering after each goal. The match lasted for 40 minutes, divided into two 15-minute halves, with a 10-minute intermission.

The competition follows a detailed rulebook stretching nearly 70 pages. Though similar to traditional soccer, the robot-specific regulations allow for more physical contact. A key distinction is that after a free kick, opposing teams must wait 10 seconds before engaging, granting AI players time to strategize.

The World Humanoid Robot Games kicked off on Thursday in Beijing and will run for three days, featuring over 500 robots from 280 teams across 16 nations. The event includes 538 competitions spanning 26 sports, including soccer, athletics, and gymnastics.

This event follows China’s historic first AI-powered 3v3 soccer match held on June 27 in Beijing.

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