Atlas, a cutting-edge humanoid robot, took to the pitch to present the match ball to the referee during halftime of the Brazil vs. Norway round of 16 match at New York New Jersey Stadium. The robot even mimicked some striking goal celebrations, including Norwegian striker Erling Haaland’s distinctive meditation pose.
”We have always viewed human skill as a source of inspiration that motivates us to advance the capabilities of robots,” remarked Alberto Rodriguez, director of robot behavior at Boston Dynamics.
The robot, unveiled by tournament sponsor Hyundai Motor, has previously showcased its abilities through dance and parkour.
However, to deliver the match ball — and execute some impressive moves — Atlas had to tackle challenges specific to the World Cup.
Boston Dynamics’ Atlas humanoid robot just stole the show at the World Cup
During halftime of the Brazil vs. Norway Round of 16 match, Atlas handed the match ball to the referee and nailed Erling Haaland’s signature goal celebration.
Hyundai Motor Group completed its 100%… pic.twitter.com/Mcq5MgfSzo
— CyberRobo (@CyberRobooo) July 6, 2026
Standard Wi-Fi communications with Atlas were not feasible due to the tens of thousands of fans surrounding the pitch with cellphones, so a new communication method was developed using a radio device strapped to the robot’s back.
”And the grass presents its own unique challenges,” Rodriguez explained. ”We had to modify how Atlas learns to walk, jump, and run to make it more resilient.”
Hyundai has been actively pursuing mass production of these robots, announcing this year its plans to deploy them at its manufacturing facility in Georgia starting in 2028 to automate high-risk and repetitive tasks.
