Boston Dynamics’ Atlas Humanoid Robot Shows Off Soccer Skills at World Cup

Atlas, the humanoid robot developed by Boston Dynamics, represents a key advance in “physical AI” worldwide. Parent company Hyundai Motor acquired Boston Dynamics for about $880 million in 2021 and has worked to combine machine learning with dynamic control. The technology can improve adaptability in complex environments, making it an important benchmark for robots entering industrial and service markets.

At a World Cup round-of-16 knockout match in New York on July 5, 2026, the latest Atlas took to the field to deliver the ball and mimic soccer star Erling Haaland’s celebration, showcasing difficult soccer maneuvers. Boston Dynamics and Hyundai Motor used the appearance to demonstrate their “School of Football” program, which trains the robot’s dynamic balance through motion capture and reinforcement learning. The team expects Atlas to enter mass production for factory use as early as 2028.