Football and Robotics: Robot Referees and Ball-Boy Robots

Robotics is gradually making its way into football. RoboCup — a robot football championship — has been held annually since 1997. The goal is for a team of robots to defeat the human world champion by 2050. So far, robots can perform simple movements, but technology is developing rapidly.

There are also practical applications. Ball-boy robots are being tested in some stadiums. AI cameras are already taking over line judging — at the 2022 World Cup, semi-automated offside technology worked more accurately than humans. In training, ball launchers and goalkeeper practice robots are widely used.

In Uzbekistan, robotics is not yet applied in football, but it is possible to participate in RoboCup tournaments within the framework of STEM education. This interests young people in both football and technology. In the future, simple tasks — collecting balls, cleaning the field — may be handed over to robots. However, football's human emotion, creativity, and unpredictability will never be given to a robot.