An aerial soccer match? Drone soccer soars at CES 2024

Drone soccer swaps balls for drones at CES 2024 | Screencap from Reuters/X

Ever imagined the day when the familiar world of soccer would take to the skies? It might sound crazy, but it’s happening, and there’s even a legitimate governing body steering the game.

Indeed, the worlds of technology and sports are constantly evolving, and new activities and events emerge over time.

In the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024, the renowned technology convention held in Las Vegas, drone soccer made its official debut.

Drone soccer has kicked off a debut at #CES2024 this year. The game played with two teams of five pilots, and scoring happens when a drone flies through the 23-inch goal pic.twitter.com/GXQB7mGX5i

— Reuters (@Reuters) January 11, 2024

Enclosed within protective, circular shells, the game, developed in Jeonju, North Jeolla, Korea, infuses a unique and unconventional twist to the traditional soccer experience.

Just like FIFA oversees traditional soccer, the Federation of International Dronesoccer Association (FIDA) is at the helm, bringing the excitement of competition and strategic play to the skies.

“It started with the idea of playing soccer with a drone, and since then, our researchers have been working hard to create a product called drone soccer, and a lot of other people have come together to make it a leisure sport, and here we are at CES, and I’m very happy and very excited as the president of FIDA that we’ve come this far,” Sangheub Ro, the FIDA president, shared to Reuters in a video posted on X. 

So, how does this aerial soccer match unfold?

Instead of physical players, competitors skillfully maneuver drones within spherical cases.

As told by FIDA, two teams, each composed of five pilots, navigate above a grass field, directing five drone soccer balls with precision. One pilot takes on the role of the striker, while the remaining four play defensively or adopt various formations to thwart the opposing team’s scoring attempts.

Scoring involves the art of flying a drone soccer ball through a 60-centimeter diameter round goal post, demanding both skill and precision.

Each drone soccer match consists of three sets, each lasting three minutes, creating an exhilarating fusion of technology and sportsmanship.