AI robots take punt at football, household chores at RoboCup 2026 Incheon

INCHEON — AI robots from all over the world assembled in Korea for RoboCup 2026 Incheon on Thursday, showcasing their skills on the football pitch and advanced intelligence in daily activities such as cooking.

Robot research groups from 45 countries including Korea displayed their robots’ various capabilities on the first day of the five-day event at Songdo Convensia in Incheon. 

As RoboCup originally started in 1997 with a mission of fielding a team of robots capable of beating the FIFA World Cup champions by 2050, this year’s edition, of course, included a football tournament.

The football competition attracted the largest audience at the expo, with people flocking to fences behind multiple pitches even before kickoff.

When the matches began, robots started kicking the Adidas Trionda — the official FIFA World Cup 2026 ball — and often made physical challenges against each other, resembling a competitive human game.

Spectators cheered for robots’ skills or groaned when they missed a shot.

“I came here this morning from Cheongju [in North Chungcheong] after learning of RobotCup on TV,” a spectator surnamed Jeon told the Korea JoongAng Daily. “This is amazing but also a bit scary. I wonder if those robots can live with humans.”

These robots were, however, not completely smooth operators. Some made random, abrupt moves such as running into goalposts, forcing humans to interfere and adjust their positions.

As only two to four robots per team competed in a game, the contest was more like a futsal match, where players execute multiple roles. Robots not only clashed with each other when defending but also made runs — more like speedwalking for humans — when on the attack.

Shooting required multiple steps — from recognizing the ball to lining up the angle — but they could still get the job done. One aspect of the game requiring human help was restarts after a goal, as they could not pick up the ball and place it in the center of the pitch.

Applause erupted from robot research teams on the sidelines every time their robots pulled off impressive moves.

Teams from other universities were also preparing their robots before they went into action.

“We previously competed in the RoboCup Korea and won it,” Kim Tae-hwan, a student from the University of Seoul, said. “Our robot can already do all the basic functions such as tracking the ball and kicking it.”

There was much more than just football, as the RoboCup has transformed into a tournament in which robots showcase intelligence in a host of other sectors.

On the other side of the venue, there were robots doing housework, carrying out daily activities as they proved how they can do chores for humans.

A robot developed by Swan Robotics greeted people passing in front and handed them bread.

“At the moment, we’ve trained it to perform this specific task,” Jeong Ji-yong, a graduate student from Kookmin University, said. “In the future, however, I think it could also take on household tasks such as making beds or cleaning rooms. It could also manage the food stored in the refrigerator. If we develop the right applications, I believe it could handle those kinds of tasks as well.” 

Swan Robotics visited this year’s RoboCup after agreeing to cooperate with LG CNS.

“LG CNS needed robots for this event and reached out to Swan Robotics, led by our professor, Cho Baek-kyu, with the intention of featuring robots developed in Korea,” Jeong said. “We have decided to participate in the event under the names of Swan Robotics and Kookmin University’s robot laboratory. This project could serve as an opportunity for LG CNS, Swan Robotics and our laboratory to establish a working relationship.”

In the neighboring booth, a robot from Aei Robot also showcased its ability to conduct simple house chores as it picked up a basket of water bottles and smoothly moved it onto a desk.

Chores were only a fraction of what these intelligent robots could do. Elsewhere, a robot from Mandarin Robotics demonstrated its wok skills, flipping the pan like a chef cooking dishes that require a smoky flavor.

“Right now, in this case, it’s using a nonstick pan, so it’s mainly used for Korean dishes,” said Park Sang-hoon from the company’s strategic planning team. “Among our customers, the most common menu items are stir-fried octopus or other stir-fried items. Since this pan is interchangeable, if users switch to the Chinese-style wok, it can be used for Chinese cuisine and for Thai and Vietnamese dishes.”

New Incheon Mayor Park Chan-dae, who started his term on Wednesday, attended RoboCup and welcomed participants in the opening ceremony.

“Here in Incheon, a land of opportunity where robotics and AI are driving the industries of the future, I believe the RoboCup 2026 will serve as a catalyst for the next leap forward in innovation,” Park said. “Driving that progress is the cutting-edge robotic technology you have spent years researching and advancing. I sincerely hope that your tireless efforts, day and night, will culminate in remarkable achievements on the stage here.

“I hope this event will be more than just a fierce competition — but it will become a venue where participants share technology, build friendships and strengthen bonds of collaboration. The Incheon Metropolitan Government will also do everything possible to ensure that this event is organized smoothly and successfully.”

This year marks the first time Korea has hosted RoboCup.

“It’s the 29th RoboCup overall, it took us almost 30 years to get here,” RoboCup Federation President Ubbo Visser said at the opening ceremony. “For nearly three decades, RoboCup competitions have inspired innovation, accelerated scientific progress and brought together researchers, students and industries across the globe.”

Through the annual event, the host city aims to promote the country’s robot industry internationally and enhance its capacity to host large global events.  

Organizers said the event is expected to bring together about 3,000 competitors from 45 countries worldwide.

The hosting also comes as Incheon prepares to become a hub of the robot industry in Korea with the city’s Incheon Robot Land — a yet-to-be-completed robot complex where industrial facilities, a theme park and commercial space will be located altogether.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [[email protected]]