Humanoid robots competed in a 3-on-3 soccer tournament in Beijing, delivering a comical display of stumbles, pileups, and slow-motion collisions.

Despite the slapstick spectacle, the robots were fully autonomous, using AI and advanced sensors to navigate and play without human control.

The event highlighted China’s serious investment in robotics, with its market projected to reach $108 billion by 2028.

The match also previewed the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, NBC News has reported.

In the final, Tsinghua University’s team beat China Agricultural University 5–3, delighting the crowd despite the robots’ frequent pratfalls.

Written by B.C. Begley