Soccer-Playing Robot Scores Ahead of World Cup

Hyundai is previewing a future in which robots are not only used in factories, but also appear at major global sporting events.

In a new video released by the company, Boston Dynamics’ humanoid robot Atlas is shown learning soccer movements by analyzing footage from past World Cup matches, then trying to reproduce them on the field.

The video, titled “School of Football - Can Robots Learn Movement Through Soccer?”, shows Atlas watching human players, studying their movements and eventually kicking a ball itself.

“Atlas meets the world of football for the first time ahead of the 2026 World Cup in North America,” Hyundai said. “His football journey is just beginning.”

The clip sparked speculation online that Atlas may play a role in the World Cup opening ceremony or perform a symbolic kickoff. The tournament begins June 11 and will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Beyond the marketing push, the video is also a technology showcase. The new version of Atlas, introduced at CES 2026, is designed mainly for industrial use and has already demonstrated advanced abilities, including lifting heavy objects and performing complex tasks in dynamic environments.

Hyundai plans to begin mass production of the robot and deploy it in company facilities and with partners such as Google DeepMind. The company aims to reach production capacity of up to 30,000 robots a year by 2028 and integrate tens of thousands of them into Hyundai and Kia production lines.

Hyundai has also said Atlas will appear alongside Boston Dynamics’ robot dog Spot during World Cup events as part of a broader plan to improve fan experience, event management and safety.

South Korean soccer star Son Heung-min, captain of the national team, has been named a Hyundai brand ambassador and appears alongside Atlas in the campaign.

Robots are still far from replacing professional players, but at this year's World Cup, they may already become part of the show.