On July 6, Hyundai announced that Atlas successfully demonstrated a performance during halftime of the Round of 16 match at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium, where it handed the match ball to the referee.
Atlas made its entrance just before halftime ended, captivating the audience with ceremonies mimicking world-renowned soccer players such as Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, Matheus Cunha, and Son Heung-min. The robot's precise movements culminated in a symbolic moment as it delivered the match ball to the referee, signaling the start of the second half.
The Atlas showcased during this performance is a prototype of the next-generation electric model, first unveiled at CES 2026 in January. This model sparked curiosity about its capabilities.
Boston Dynamics previously revealed various movements of the initial research model before introducing the physical design of the prototype. The movements of the prototype have been showcased in brand videos, but this was the first live demonstration for the public at the World Cup.
Notably, Atlas performed complex movements reliably in the unpredictable stadium environment, illustrating the practical applications of Hyundai's envisioned future robotics technology.
The entire process of Atlas delivering the official match ball involved 'retargeting technology' that reconstructs human movements for robotic structures, reinforcement learning based on thousands of simulations, and full-body control technology that allows all joints to respond as a single system, resulting in balanced and natural movements.
The movements displayed by Atlas were developed based on core competencies intended for real-world industrial applications. Hyundai demonstrated that robotics can create new experiences beyond mere technical demonstrations, extending into sports, entertainment, and operational settings.
This performance is part of Hyundai's global brand campaign, 'Next Starts Now,' which has been active as a FIFA official partner since 1999.
In a campaign video released before the World Cup, titled 'School of Football,' Atlas learns soccer movements, effectively illustrating Hyundai's core robotics technology and generating public interest.
The main video of the 'Next Starts Now' campaign, released on June 1, featured Atlas entering the stadium with a ball, heightening expectations for Hyundai's vision of future mobility on the World Cup stage.
Additionally, Hyundai plans to release a branded film titled 'Training Ground' in collaboration with BBC on July 7, documenting the preparation and technical challenges of the World Cup robotics campaign, showcasing its ongoing development journey toward realizing its future robotics vision.
Ji Sung-won, Vice President of Hyundai Motor's Brand Marketing Division, stated, "We aimed to show that the future is not just imagined but is already beginning, through Atlas's performance on the World Cup stage watched by soccer fans worldwide. We will continue to connect human-centered technology with everyday life and present a new vision for future mobility through robotics, demonstrating that robotics can be a partner in human progress through diverse and creative brand experiences."
Alberto Rodriguez, Head of Behavior Policy at Boston Dynamics, expressed, "It is meaningful that Boston Dynamics, Hyundai, and FIFA can collaborate to provide a new experience for soccer fans worldwide, inspired by the diverse dynamic movements of humans. The performance by Atlas was based on AI learning technologies applicable in real industrial settings, and we will continue to innovate so that more people can experience the possibilities and value of advanced robotics."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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