*This clash of metal, chip and algorithm provided a public showcase and technical exchange platform for the emerging field of embodied intelligence represented by humanoid robots.

*The capabilities honed by humanoid robots in soccer scenarios, such as mobility, perception algorithms, positioning and navigation, as well as decision-making logic, all hold potential for real-world applications in both daily life and professional scenarios.

*The games also showed the global developers that by cooperating with China, they can integrate the country's top-tier hardware with their own algorithms to solve diverse challenges.

BEIJING -- At the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games, the first of its kind globally, which wrapped up on Aug 17 in Beijing, the much-anticipated robot five-a-side soccer saw Tsinghua Hephaestus from China emerge victorious, defeating the joint team of Germany's HTWK Robots and Nao Devils to claim the championship. China Agricultural University's Mountain & Sea beat Sweaty from Germany in three-a-side soccer final.

The robot games kicked off on Thursday, featuring 280 teams from 16 countries competing across 26 events in categories such as competition, exhibition and scenario-based events. This clash of metal, chip and algorithm provided a public showcase and technical exchange platform for the emerging field of embodied intelligence represented by humanoid robots.

ULTIMATE TEST SCENARIO

The competition included events such as the 100m, 400m, 1500m, standing long jump, free gymnastics and soccer. The exhibition featured individual and group dance, as well as wushu, while scenario-based events simulated real-world settings such as factories, hospitals and hotels. Together, these challenges served as the ultimate test for humanoid robots.

In the center of the stadium's boxing ring, two G1 robots from Unitree faced off in a gripping match. Standing around 130 cm tall and weighing roughly 35 kg, they donned professional boxing gloves and helmets. Mirroring human fighters, the robots exchanged left and right hooks, executed side kicks and knee strikes, and nimbly dodged incoming blows. Even when knocked down, they rose unassisted and continued the fight.

Humanoid robots combat during a kickboxing match at the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 15, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

Deng Huasheng from Unitree said that in freestyle combat sports, hardware durability is just as crucial as software algorithms. "If the structure can't withstand impacts, it will fall apart. And if the balance algorithm fails, even a slight push can topple the robot."

In the five-a-side soccer final and three-a-side soccer final, the four teams fielded T1 robots from Beijing-based Booster Robotics. These robots can autonomously assess their surroundings and execute complex actions like trotting, tackling, shooting, and defending entirely on their own. Achieving this requires not only lightweight yet resilient hardware capable of withstanding impacts, but also sophisticated real-time perception, advanced motion control, cognitive decision-making, and seamless multi-agent coordination.

According to Zhao Weichen, vice president of Booster Robotics, robot soccer represents the most fundamental universal testing ground for technology. The capabilities honed by humanoid robots in soccer scenarios, such as mobility, perception algorithms, positioning and navigation, as well as decision-making logic, all hold potential for real-world applications in both daily life and professional scenarios.

YOUNG TALENTS

Alongside the robotic athletes, the human operators working behind the scenes also drew wide attention, particularly as most were university students and young engineers in their 20s and 30s, with some even still in high school.

During the opening ceremony, the 14-year-old flag bearer from a junior high school in Beijing became the youngest participating engineer. Three teams composed of junior high school and senior high school students also competed in the soccer events.

The international squad march in the stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 14, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

Young talents from various countries have been pouring into humanoid robotics development. Most are STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) enthusiasts or university students majoring in fields like mathematics, mechanical engineering, electronics, computer science, and communications. During the competitions, they troubleshot malfunctioning robots on-site, connecting laptops to adjust software parameters with the precision and focus of a laboratory experiment.

China's talent advantage is a key driver in advancing humanoid robotics. Zhou Changjiu, president of the RoboCup Asia-Pacific Confederation and one of the co-organizers of the games, noted that China has a culture that deeply values STEM education. Both parents and society place great emphasis on STEM, with many children actively participating in competitions, creating a unique cultural and social environment that fosters talent development.

According to policy documents unveiled this May, China will establish a tiered AI education system spanning primary, junior high and senior high schools to guide students from foundational cognitive awareness to practical technological innovation.

GLOBAL OPEN PLATFORM

The games also provided a platform for global humanoid robotics researchers to exchange ideas, allowing engineers from various countries to get familiar with the latest robots and refine their algorithms.

In the soccer competition, over 10 international teams from countries including Brazil, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Australia, Italy, Thailand and Indonesia used T1 robots from Beijing-based Booster Robotics. In the 2025 RoboCup held in Brazil this July, two Chinese teams made history by using these T1 robots, sweeping both the champion and runner-up titles in the adult-size category.

Humanoid robots compete during a 3V3 soccer match at the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 15, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

According to Joao Victor, a soccer team member of RoboFEI from Brazil, it was the first time that he used Booster Robotics T1, and the robots were amazing. His team could talk with other teams from around the world and pick up new tactics from the competition.

Zhao Weichen said Booster Robotics has increased investment in operating systems and all-in-one development tools, making it easier for other users to do secondary development.

Thanks to the modular and readable design, developers can use the integrated development tools to quickly migrate algorithms across different robot brands. For example, at the 2025 RoboCup in Brazil, a German team rapidly deployed their original robot's algorithms onto Booster Robotics K1 and ultimately won the championship in the small-size category, Zhao added.

According to Zhou, the games served as both a platform and a showcase, demonstrating to the world China's advantages in the humanoid robotics sector from the industrial chain and robot hardware to a large user base. It also showed the global developers that by cooperating with China, they can integrate the country's top-tier hardware with their own algorithms to solve diverse challenges.

"I'm truly excited that China is hosting the first World Humanoid Robot Games. It's making history. A decade or two from now, we'll look back and recognize this as the birth of the robot Olympics. Just as the Olympic Games originated in Ancient Greece, future generations will see Beijing as the birthplace of the modern robot Olympics," he said.