Hyundai Motor Achieves First-Ever Match Operation with Humanoid Robot "Atlas®" at FIFA World Cup 2026TM

・Hyundai Motor Deploys Boston Dynamics' "Atlas®" for Live Operations at FIFA World Cup 2026TM

・Humanoid Robot Appears for the First Time in a Live Match Environment to Support Game Operations

・Storylines from "Next Starts Now" and "School of Football" Realized on a Historic Global Stage

Hyundai Motor Company announced the live deployment of "Atlas®", an advanced humanoid robot developed by Boston Dynamics, during a Round of 16 match at the FIFA World Cup 2026TM. As the official robotics partner of the tournament, Hyundai Motor Company delivered a groundbreaking halftime show utilizing robotics for the first time in the history of football's biggest stage, showcasing cutting-edge robotics technology to the world.

This initiative underscores Hyundai Motor Group's commitment to strengthening its leadership in robotics, driving human-centered innovation, and creating experiences that meaningfully connect technology with people.

Live Deployment of Robotics and Sports at FIFA World Cup 2026TM

This performance introduced advanced robotics technology to the stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026TM, one of the world's largest sporting events, demonstrating that future technologies can function effectively even in the dynamic environment of a live match.

This performance achieved two significant milestones:

Showcased the real-world mobility performance of the humanoid robot "Atlas®", first unveiled at CES 2026, to the public for the first time. Became the first robotics application to appear in a live FIFA World CupTM match environment.

By integrating robotics into live sports, Hyundai Motor Company embodied its vision of "Progress for Humanity" and demonstrated how robotics technology can offer new and valuable experiences to people worldwide.

Sungwon Jee, Global CMO and Executive Vice President at Hyundai Motor Company, stated:

"As part of Hyundai Motor Company's global campaign 'Next Starts Now,' we wanted to show that the future is not just in our imagination but has already begun, through the performance of 'Atlas®' on the world's biggest stage. Hyundai Motor Company is committed to realizing human-centered innovations that naturally integrate into people's daily lives. We will also present a vision of future mobility expanded by robotics and demonstrate through diverse and creative brand experiences that robots can be reliable partners supporting human progress."

"Atlas®" Performance Unveiled at Halftime

During halftime, "Atlas®" emerged from the player tunnel and performed a routine inspired by goal celebrations from players like Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, Matheus Cunha, and Son Heung-min. Following the performance, it demonstrated exceptional precision and control by handing the official match ball to the referee, leading into the kickoff of the second half.

This presentation, watched by audiences and viewers worldwide, proved that "Atlas®" can perform accurately and stably even in the environment of a large-scale international sports event.

How Humanoid Robot "Atlas®" Learned Soccer-Inspired Movements

The halftime performance was made possible by several advanced robotics technologies integrated into "Atlas®":

Motion Retargeting Technology This technology converts and reproduces human movements, gestures, and soccer goal celebrations to match the robot's structure. Reinforcement Learning Through thousands of simulations and trial-and-error processes before live deployment, this technology learns and optimizes movements. Whole-Body Control This technology integrally controls the robot's entire body joints and movements, enabling smooth, balanced, and dynamic actions.

By combining these technologies, "Atlas®" can execute complex and advanced movements while flexibly adapting to changing environments and situations.

Alberto Rodriguez, Director of Robotics and Behavior at Boston Dynamics, commented:

"At Boston Dynamics, we have consistently expanded the possibilities of robots and fostered connections with people by drawing inspiration from human physical capabilities, whether in gymnastics, dance, parkour, or now, soccer. It was a significant challenge and a joy for us to deliver such a special moment to fans alongside Hyundai Motor Group and FIFA. The method used to teach 'Atlas®' the series of movements demonstrated in the match is essentially the same approach we use to train robots for real-world industrial applications. This initiative provided an excellent opportunity to introduce the potential of AI-powered robots to people around the world."

Bringing the World of "School of Football" and "Next Starts Now" to the Real Stage

This performance was executed as part of Hyundai Motor Company's global campaign, "Next Starts Now." It is particularly closely linked to the content series "School of Football," which depicts "Atlas®" learning and growing through soccer. The soccer-inspired movements and learning processes depicted in the video were presented as actual performances at the FIFA World Cup 2026TM stage. The fact that the story communicated through content connected to a real experience via one of the world's largest sporting events is a symbolic element of this initiative. "Next Starts Now" aims to connect communities through football and inspire the next generation of players, fans, and innovators.

Furthermore, the introduction of "Atlas®" into a live match environment represents an effort to evolve technologies previously presented as concepts or in pilot tests into real-world experiences at the FIFA World CupTM. As a culmination of Hyundai Motor Company's storytelling in robotics, it demonstrated that advanced robotics technology can be utilized not only in controlled environments but also in dynamic, real-world settings.

In "School of Football," the process of "Atlas®" learning advanced soccer techniques like the "Ghost Rabona" and other soccer-inspired movements is depicted. The robotics technologies used there are the same ones that supported the performance showcased at the FIFA World CupTM. The "Ghost Rabona," a move where the player crosses their legs to kick the ball, is a difficult maneuver requiring dynamic balance control and precise timing. "Atlas®" enhanced its movement accuracy by analyzing and modeling human soccer motion data in detail, applying it to a physics-based simulation environment, and repeatedly practicing through "Reinforcement Learning." Achieving these movements requires a combination of advanced technologies, including dynamic balance control in unstable and asymmetric postures, coordinated whole-body movements linking multiple joints and limbs, real-time adaptation to changing weight shifts and momentum, and motor control that maintains accuracy even under physical constraints. Behind-the-scenes content and additional stories related to this performance will be sequentially released over the coming weeks through Hyundai Motor Company's owned media and various PR channels.

Hyundai Motor Company will release "The Training Ground," a documentary-style video produced in collaboration with BBC Story Works Commercial Productions. This film showcases the technical preparations and training process "Atlas®" underwent for the FIFA World CupTM stage. Two versions of the video are available: a 3-minute 30-second version and a 30-second version, scheduled for sequential release on Hyundai Motor Company's official social media channels starting July 7.

Towards the Social Implementation of Robotics by Hyundai Motor Group

This initiative serves as a symbolic case of Hyundai Motor Group's vision for the future of robotics technology evolving from experimentation and demonstration stages to practical application in society. Hyundai Motor Group will continue to invest in human-centered robotics and AI technologies, developing technologies that provide new value in people's daily lives and industrial sites.

Hyundai Motor Company will promote its vision of "Progress for Humanity" by integrating sports, technology, and storytelling on the stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026TM.

About Hyundai

Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Company operates in over 200 countries and employs more than 120,000 people, addressing real-world mobility challenges globally. Based on its brand vision of "Progress for Humanity," Hyundai Motor is accelerating its transformation into a smart mobility solutions provider. To realize innovative mobility solutions, Hyundai is investing in advanced technologies such as robotics and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and pursuing open innovation to introduce future mobility services. For a sustainable future for the world, Hyundai Motor continues its efforts to introduce zero-emission vehicles equipped with industry-leading hydrogen fuel cell and electric vehicle technology.

For more information about Hyundai Motor Company and its products, please visit:

https://www.hyundai.com/worldwide/en/