Hyundai Motor brings Atlas humanoid robot to FIFA World Cup 2026

By bringing robotics into a live sporting environment, Hyundai Motor is advancing its 'Progress for Humanity' vision while demonstrating how robotics innovation can create meaningful experiences for people around the world.

“As part of Hyundai's 'Next Starts Now' campaign, we wanted Atlas's performance on the world's biggest stage to demonstrate that the future isn't something we imagine – it starts now. At Hyundai, we are committed to developing human-centered innovation that integrates seamlessly into everyday life, and to presenting a new vision of future mobility expanded through robotics, showing that robotics can be a trusted partner in humanity's progress through diverse and creative brand experiences,"  commented Sungwon Jee, executive cice president and global chief marketing officer, Hyundai Motor Company

At halftime, Atlas emerged from the player tunnel, capturing the crowd’s attention with a sequence of iconic goal celebrations inspired by some of the world’s most celebrated footballers, including Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, Matheus Cunha, and Son Heung-min. The performance heightened the stadium atmosphere while underscoring Atlas’ advanced mobility and expressive capabilities. 

Following the performance, Atlas delivered the ceremonial match ball to the referee with its signature precision and control, marking the start of the second half. The activation unfolded live before a global audience, showcasing Atlas’ ability to execute highly coordinated movements and operate reliably within the dynamic, real-world environment of a major international sporting event.

Atlas' halftime performance was powered by several core robotics capabilities that enable advanced movement and real-world interaction:

• Retargeting Technology – Allows Atlas to translate and adapt human movements, including football celebrations and gestures, to its own robotic form.
• Reinforcement Learning – Uses thousands of simulations to train and refine movements before deployment.
• Whole-Body Control – Coordinates movement across the robot's entire body, enabling fluid, balanced and dynamic motion.

Together, these capabilities allow Atlas to perform increasingly sophisticated tasks while adapting to changing conditions and environments.

“At Boston Dynamics we have always taken inspiration from human athletic feats like gymnastics, dancing, parkour and now football to push forward the frontier of what robots can do in a way that connects with people. Working with Hyundai Motor group and FIFA to create such a unique moment for fans was an exciting challenge for our team. The way we trained Atlas to perform these fun movements at the match is similar to how we teach the robot to take on real-world industrial applications. It’s a great way to introduce people everywhere to the incredible potential of today's AI-enabled robots," said Alberto Rodriguez, director of robotics behaviour at Boston Dynamics.

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