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FIRA RoboWorld Cup Organized & hosted in Canada by CNRS

FIRA RoboWorld Cup

Enjoy Robots, Enjoy Life!

FIRA RoboWorld Cup & Summit 2026 July 17–21, 2026 Markham, Ontario
Official site
1996
Founded at KAIST
30th
Edition (2025)
4
League tracks
17+
Nations at worlds
Overview

Founded in 1996 by Prof. Jong-Hwan Kim at KAIST, FIRA is the oldest robot soccer competition in the world — now spanning humanoid robot sport, autonomous flying robots, research challenges and youth leagues. CNRS is the official Canadian host of the 2026 RoboWorld Cup & Summit.

FIRA — the Federation of International Robot Sports Association — was created to take the spirit of robotic science, mechatronics and artificial intelligence to the younger generation. From its origins as the MiroSot Cup it grew into the FIRA RoboWorld Cup & Summit, a global gathering of robot sport and research.

Competitions are organized into four tracks — FIRA Sports, FIRA Air, FIRA Challenges and FIRA Youth — so participants from school age to professional researcher all find a stage. The 2026 RoboWorld Cup & Summit comes to Markham, Ontario, hosted by CNRS.

CNRS hosts it in Canada

FIRA RoboWorld Cup & Summit 2026

July 17–21, 2026
Markham, Ontario

We organize and run the Canadian edition — here's when and where.

Spotlight

2026 Host City · Markham, Canada

For the first time, CNRS brings the FIRA RoboWorld Cup & Summit to Canada — Markham, Ontario, July 2026 — uniting humanoid sport, flying robots and youth innovation under one roof.

Leagues & Challenges

Four tracks cover everything from humanoid robot athletics to autonomous drones, self-driving cars and hands-on youth challenges.

FIRA Sports

HuroCupKid & Adult divisions

HuroCup

All-round humanoid robot athletics: a single robot competes across events like sprint, marathon, weightlifting, archery, basketball and obstacle run — with an All-Round title for the best overall.

RoboSotOpen

RoboSot

Vision-based autonomous robot soccer in two formats: a soccer match with skill challenges (localization, avoidance, passing) and a race to push a coloured ball into the matching zone.

AndroSotRemote-controlled

AndroSot

Remote-controlled “android” humanoids (≤50 cm) play soccer-style challenges on a 4 m × 6 m field — dribbling, shooting, goalkeeping and positioning in events like Dribble-and-Attack and Free Kick.

FIRA Air

Air · Autonomous RaceResearch teams

Air · Autonomous Race

Autonomous drones race human pilots on 3D tracks, working to close the gap between autonomous and human performance as on-track assistance is gradually reduced.

Air · Autonomous Race U19Under 19

Air · Autonomous Race U19

A youth drone race on a simplified 3D track where custom gate markers aid guidance — with optional moving-gate and FPV-only challenge formats.

Air · Emergency Service OutdoorOpen

Air · Emergency Service Outdoor

Autonomous drones deliver medicine packages across high-traffic urban areas, handling GPS interference from buildings with vision-based localization and obstacle avoidance.

Air · Emergency Service IndoorOpen

Air · Emergency Service Indoor

Drones navigate indoor environments for package delivery and inspection where GPS is weak — intelligent navigation and obstacle detection in tight spaces.

FIRA Challenges

Autonomous Cars · PhysicalPro & Youth

Autonomous Cars · Physical

Teams build RC-car-sized self-driving electric vehicles to clear checkpoints on a Race Track and an Urban Track — scored on checkpoints passed in the least time.

Autonomous Cars · SimulationYouth (U19) & Pro

Autonomous Cars · Simulation

Self-driving algorithms run in the AVIS Engine simulator (ROS + Gazebo) on Race and Urban tracks, with preliminary and final stages scored on checkpoints and time.

Innovation & BusinessPro & Youth

Innovation & Business

A stage for inventors to present robotics, AI and automation projects alongside business models and market viability — learning to turn ideas into startups.

FIRA Youth

Cliff HangerU14 / U19

Cliff Hanger

A head-to-head event with two weight classes — Lightweight (<1 kg) and Heavyweight (≥1 kg) — rewarding tactical gameplay and clever robot design within mass limits.

DRC-ExplorerU14 / U19

DRC-Explorer

Robots navigate earthquake ruins, locate aid and food packages, and deliver them to trapped survivors — testing autonomous navigation, object detection and retrieval.

HuroCup JuniorYouth

HuroCup Junior

A junior humanoid track — archery, sprint, marathon, long jump, weightlifting, basketball and more — building locomotion, balance and motion-planning skills.

Mission ImpossibleU14 / U19

Mission Impossible

Creative problem-solving with only basic materials (popsicle sticks, rubber bands) and simple tools — inspired by MacGyver, so expensive hardware gives no edge.

Wheeled Sports RobotsAges 14–19

Wheeled Sports Robots

Wheeled robots follow black lines to coloured stations to perform athletic tasks — weightlifting, track-and-field, kicking a ball, archery and pushing obstacles.

Tracks
Humanoid & soccer

FIRA Sports

Robot sport at its purest — HuroCup humanoid athletics, RoboSot vision soccer and AndroSot.

Autonomous drones

FIRA Air

Flying robots race and deliver — autonomous racing plus indoor and outdoor emergency service.

Research & innovation

FIRA Challenges

Self-driving cars (physical & simulation) and an innovation-and-business pitch competition.

U14 / U19

FIRA Youth

Accessible, hands-on challenges that grow the next generation of roboticists.

How it works
1

Choose a track

Pick Sports, Air, Challenges or Youth — and a league within it.

2

Build your robot

Develop a humanoid, drone, car or youth robot to the league’s rules.

3

Compete & be judged

Take on events scored on speed, accuracy or innovation.

4

Reach the World Cup

Qualify toward the FIRA RoboWorld Cup & Summit — in Canada for 2026.

Why compete

The oldest of them all

Running since 1996 — the world’s original robot soccer competition.

Robot sport spectacle

Humanoid athletics and drone racing make FIRA as fun to watch as to compete in.

Canada hosts 2026

CNRS brings the RoboWorld Cup & Summit to Markham, Ontario.

CNRS hosts it in Canada

FIRA RoboWorld Cup & Summit 2026

July 17–21, 2026 · Markham, Ontario

Hall of Fame

RoboWorld Cup 2023 (sample)
#1Team Canada HuroCupCanada
#2Kavosh RoboticsMarkham, ON
#3York RoboticsMarkham, ON

Videos

FIRA RoboWorld Cup & Summit 2023
FIRA

FIRA RoboWorld Cup & Summit 2023

FIRA Robot Soccer — Match Footage
FIRA

FIRA Robot Soccer — Match Footage

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Frequently asked questions
What does FIRA stand for?

The Federation of International Robot Sports Association, founded in 1996 at KAIST in Korea.

Is there an event for younger students?

Yes — FIRA Youth offers U14 and U19 challenges like Cliff Hanger, DRC-Explorer and Wheeled Sports Robots.

Where is the 2026 World Cup?

In Markham, Ontario, Canada — hosted by CNRS, July 2026.

Compete in Canada

Register your interest and our team will guide you to the next edition.