The Boston Dynamics Humanoid Robot Atlas successfully demonstrated a performance delivering the match ball to the referee during the round of 16 at the 2026 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) North and Central America World Cup.
On the 6th, according to Hyundai Motor, Atlas appeared from the players' tunnel just before the end of halftime and performed ceremonies inspired by Son Heung-min and England's Harry Kane, as well as Erling Haaland (Norway) and Matheus Cunha (Brazil).
Then, holding the match ball in one hand, it struck a pose toward the camera, extended its arm and raised the ball to the sky in a ceremony. It then bowed to the referee and handed over the ball with one hand, completing the moment signaling the start of the second half.
The Atlas used in the performance is a "next-generation electric Atlas development model," first unveiled in Jan. at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). After being introduced through brand videos, it had its first live demonstration on the World Cup stage.
Hyundai Motor said Atlas stably executed complex movements even in a stadium with many variables, showcasing "retargeting technology" that reconstructs human motion to suit the robot, simulation-based "reinforcement learning," and "whole-body control technology," in which all joints respond as a single system.
It added that the moves Atlas demonstrated were developed based on core competencies premised on real-world industrial use, and that this stage showed Robotics can create new experiences beyond technical demos, including in sports, entertainment and on-site operations.
Ji Seong-won, executive vice president of Hyundai Motor's Brand Marketing Division, said, "Through the Atlas performance on the World Cup stage, we wanted to show that the future is not imagined but already underway," adding, "We will present a new vision of future mobility that will expand with Robotics."
Alberto Rodriguez, head of Atlas behavior policy at Boston Dynamics, said, "The Atlas performance was implemented based on artificial intelligence (AI) learning technologies applied in real industrial settings," adding, "We will continue to enable more people to experience the potential and value of Robotics."