China's Humanoid Robots Generate More Soccer Excitement Than Their Human Counterparts
While China's men's soccer team hasn't generated much excitement in recent years, humanoid robot teams have won over fans in Beijing based more on the AI technology involved than any athletic prowess shown.
Four teams of humanoid robots faced off in fully autonomous 3-on-3 soccer matches powered entirely by artificial intelligence on Saturday night in China's capital in what was touted as a first in China and a preview for the upcoming World Humanoid Robot Games set to take place in Beijing. According to the organizers, a key aspect of the match was that all the participating robots operated fully autonomously using AI-driven strategies without any human intervention or supervision. Equipped with advanced visual sensors, the robots were able to identify the ball and navigate the field with agility. They were also designed to stand up on their own after falling. However, during the match, several still had to be carried off the field on stretchers by staff, adding to the realism of the experience.
China is stepping up efforts to develop AI-powered humanoid robots, using sports competitions like marathons, boxing, and soccer as a real-world proving ground. Cheng Hao, founder and CEO of Booster Robotics, the company that supplied the robot players, said sports competitions offer the ideal testing ground for humanoid robots, helping to accelerate the development of both algorithms and integrated hardware–software systems. He also emphasized safety as a core concern in the application of humanoid robots. 'In the future, we may arrange for robots to play soccer with humans. That means we must ensure the robots are completely safe,' Cheng said. 'For example, a robot and a human could play a match where winning doesn't matter, but real offensive and defensive interactions take place. That would help audiences build trust and understand that robots are safe.'
Booster Robotics provided the hardware for all four university teams, while each school's research team developed and embedded their own algorithms for perception, decision-making, player formations, and passing strategies–including variables such as speed, force, and direction, according to Cheng. In the final match, Tsinghua University's THU Robotics defeated the China Agricultural University's Mountain Sea team with a score of 5–3 to win the championship.
Mr. Wu, a supporter of Tsinghua, celebrated their victory while also praising the competition. 'They (THU) did really well,' he said. 'But the Mountain Sea team (of Agricultural University) was also impressive. They brought a lot of surprises.' China's men have made only one World Cup appearance and have already been knocked out of next year's competition in Canada, Mexico, and the US.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Asharq Al-Awsat
an hour ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Football Team Exits Concacaf Gold Cup Following Loss to Mexico
The Saudi national football team was eliminated from the Concacaf Gold Cup after a 2-0 defeat to Mexico in the quarter-finals, the Saudi Press Agency said on Sunday. Coach Hervé Renard, speaking at the post-match press conference, stated that luck was not on his team's side due to the challenging nature of the encounter. He also admitted that some tactical decisions made during the game were not optimal. Despite the loss, Renard praised the experience gained by the players, highlighting the value of competing against high-level international teams and the opportunities the tournament provided for their growth.
Al Arabiya
4 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
What does Cristiano Ronaldo's new contract mean for Al Nassr and Saudi Pro League?
Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr delivered the news that fans of the Riyadh club had been longing to hear when they confirmed on Thursday that he would be staying in Saudi Arabia's capital for another two years. Reports of a new two-year contract first emerged in January, however nothing was signed before the end of the season and after Nassr's final Saudi Pro League game of the 2024-25 campaign, Ronaldo posted on social media that 'this chapter is over.' The cryptic message sparked speculation that he would be moving on after two-and-a-half years at Al-Awwal Park, but Ronaldo and Nassr managed to agree terms on a two-year deal, which was announced this week. 'A new chapter begins. Same passion, same dream. Let's make history together,' the Portuguese superstar told supporters, via a post on X. The contract will keep Ronaldo in the Kingdom until at least 2027, when he will be 42 years old. Here, Al Arabiya English explores what the new deal means for Ronaldo, Al Nassr and the Saudi Pro League. A chance to cement Al Nassr legacy Ronaldo has maintained his incredible high individual standards since joining Al Nassr in January 2023, winning two successive Saudi Pro League Golden Boot awards - the first of which saw him set a new record total of 35 goals in a single season. In 2024-25, he finished as the division's top scorer again, despite Nassr struggling to replicate its title challenge of the previous campaign. Ronaldo's 25 Pro League strikes saw him finish ahead of Al Ahli's Ivan Toney and Karim Benzema, captain of champion Al Ittihad. The Portuguese superstar has scored 93 goals in 105 games for Nassr in all, with 74 of those coming in the Saudi Pro League. If he continues at the same scoring rate, he will likely usurp club legend Mohammad Al-Sahlawi's total of 103, though record scorer Majed Abdullah's tally of 189 will likely remain out of reach. But while the individual accolades have continued, Ronaldo has only won one trophy since arriving in Riyadh - the 2023 Arab Club Champions' Cup. Thus far, he and Nassr have fallen short in their attempts to win any of the bigger titles available: the Saudi Pro League, King's Cup, Saudi Super Cup and AFC Champions League Elite. The ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid star has come painfully close on multiple occasions. Nassr pushed a record-breaking Al Hilal side hard in the 2023-24 season before ultimately finishing as Pro League runner-up, as well as losing in the final of the 2024 King's Cup and Saudi Super Cup to its Riyadh rival. In continental competition, Ronaldo has scored freely but again fallen short - reaching the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League last year and the semi-finals of the rebranded ACL Elite this May, before losing to Japan's Kawasaki Frontale. Had Ronaldo left Nassr, it would have been without a major trophy to add to his already bulging cabinet. Now Nassr's captain has the opportunity to cement his legacy by leading the club to notable silverware. A 10th Pro League title is what Nassr fans seek most, though the club has not won the King's Cup since 1990, nor a continental trophy since the 1998 Asian Super Cup. Nassr will compete in the second-tier AFC Champions League 2 in the 2025-26 season and will be overwhelming favorites to win the tournament while, with Ronaldo leading the line, it should be a genuine contender for top domestic honors too. Improving those around him Ronaldo's impact should not only be measured in goals and shirt sales. Although he has already achieved almost everything a player could hope to in professional football, Ronaldo retains a remarkable work ethic - training hard and setting an example to his team-mates. He has helped transform Nassr in terms of culture, ambition, and belief - arriving as a five-time Ballon d'Or winner and record-breaking international goalscorer, and carrying that elite mentality into the Al Awwal Park dressing room. For younger players and established team-mates alike, the opportunity to train alongside someone of his stature has been priceless. 'I'm really happy to play with and learn from the best player in the world,' Al Nassr's Colombian striker Jhon Duran said of Ronaldo earlier this year. 'He's the best sportsperson in the world. I think he's the best footballer. I'm really happy that I can learn from him and have this chance in my career to work with such a huge star. I hope that I can see some action soon and learn everything that he can teach me and follow in his footsteps, which is the most important thing.' Ronaldo's influence goes far beyond pep talks or tactical advice. It is in the way he prepares, trains, recovers, and competes. Staff at the club have frequently spoken about how his professionalism sets the tone for the entire squad. Young players observe how he arrives early, stays late, and maintains extraordinary discipline. That example can help shape careers. Continuing 'The Ronaldo effect' Al Nassr's signing of Ronaldo was the beginning of a transformation of the Saudi Pro League. A few months after he moved to Riyadh, he was followed by the likes of Karim Benzema, Neymar, Riyad Mahrez and N'Golo Kante. It has seen an unprecedented upsurge in interest in the Kingdom's top flight - with broadcast rights sold to every corner of the world. Overseas fans are interested in the Saudi Pro League like never before, with Al Nassr shirts adorned with 'Ronaldo No. 7' now found all around the globe. Social media following Pro League clubs have multiplied several times over, bringing with them new commercial opportunities and fan engagement. Ronaldo has been the catalyst for attracting new eyeballs to the Saudi Pro League and the promise of seeing him turn out for Al Nassr for another two years means more people watching and, crucially, the signing of new broadcast contracts to ensure the division remains on the radar of football fans globally. His continued presence means that momentum does not wane. Domestically, Ronaldo is helping to grow the game too. Matches involving Al Nassr frequently attract bigger crowds, with supporters eager to see one of the sport's all-time greats in action. The Nassr captain has also been a key ambassador for Saudi Arabia's broader footballing vision, which includes nurturing more local talent, hosting major international tournaments, and positioning the Kingdom as a global hub for sport. His commitment through to 2027 aligns with the longer-term ambitions of Saudi football development and the Kingdom's Vision 2030. Just as he has helped improve his team-mates, Ronaldo has also inspired a boost in competitiveness in the Saudi Pro League. Players at opposing clubs regularly speak of their desire to take advantage of the challenge of facing one of the world's greatest players - raising their games accordingly when Ronaldo and other recognizable names roll into town. At 40 years old, Ronaldo continues to defy conventional timelines for professional athletes. His commitment to fitness and performance is unparalleled and while age may inevitably dictate some adaptation to his playing style, there is no sign that his hunger has diminished. For Ronaldo, the next two years represent an opportunity to cement his status in Saudi football history as a genuine architect of change. For Al Nassr, his extension provides the foundation for sporting and commercial continuity and for the Saudi Pro League, it reinforces the Kingdom's ambition to become a force in world football.
Asharq Al-Awsat
4 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
China's Humanoid Robots Generate More Soccer Excitement than their Human Counterparts
While China's men's soccer team hasn't generated much excitement in recent years, humanoid robot teams have won over fans in Beijing based more on the AI technology involved than any athletic prowess shown. Four teams of humanoid robots faced off in fully autonomous 3-on-3 soccer matches powered entirely by artificial intelligence on Saturday night in China's capital in what was touted as a first in China and a preview for the upcoming World Humanoid Robot Games, set to take place in Beijing. According to the organizers, a key aspect of the match was that all the participating robots operated fully autonomously using AI-driven strategies without any human intervention or supervision. Equipped with advanced visual sensors, the robots were able to identify the ball and navigate the field with agility They were also designed to stand up on their own after falling. However, during the match several still had to be carried off the field on stretchers by staff, adding to the realism of the experience. China is stepping up efforts to develop AI-powered humanoid robots, using sports competitions like marathons, boxing, and football as a real-world proving ground. Cheng Hao, founder and CEO of Booster Robotics, the company that supplied the robot players, said sports competitions offer the ideal testing ground for humanoid robots, helping to accelerate the development of both algorithms and integrated hardware-software systems. He also emphasized safety as a core concern in the application of humanoid robots. 'In the future, we may arrange for robots to play football with humans. That means we must ensure the robots are completely safe,' Cheng said. 'For example, a robot and a human could play a match where winning doesn't matter, but real offensive and defensive interactions take place. That would help audiences build trust and understand that robots are safe.' Booster Robotics provided the hardware for all four university teams, while each school's research team developed and embedded their own algorithms for perception, decision-making, player formations, and passing strategies—including variables such as speed, force, and direction, according to Cheng. In the final match, Tsinghua University's THU Robotics defeated the China Agricultural University's Mountain Sea team with a score of 5–3 to win the championship. Wu, a supporter of Tsinghua, celebrated their victory while also praising the competition. 'They (THU) did really well,' he said. 'But the Mountain Sea team (of Agricultural University) was also impressive. They brought a lot of surprises.' China's men have made only one World Cup appearance and have already been knocked out of next years' competition in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
