How did China’s humanoid robots dominate the 2025 RoboCup competitions?
China’s humanoid robots dominated the 2025 RoboCup competitions by combining world-class hardware, cutting-edge AI, and robust government and industry support. Chinese teams, particularly Tsinghua University’s Hephaestus and China Agricultural University’s Mountain & Sea, made history by clinching both the gold and silver in the highly competitive Humanoid AdultSize Soccer League—the first time in RoboCup’s 28-year history that China achieved this feat.
A major factor behind their dominance was the deployment of domestically developed Booster T1 robots, which outperformed rivals thanks to their lightweight, impact-resistant builds, agile movement, and advanced real-time perception. These robots also featured state-of-the-art cognitive decision-making and multi-agent coordination, enabling them to excel in dynamic, unpredictable match scenarios.
China’s humanoid robots didn’t just shine in soccer. At the world’s first Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Chinese teams swept key events across running, scenario-based problem-solving, and even robot boxing. The competitions showcased impressive advances in motion control, sensor integration, and AI-driven intelligent behaviour.
Industry leaders attribute this achievement to China’s strong robotics ecosystem—including the full supply chain, hardware expertise, and a rapidly growing user base. Notably, even many international teams at these games used Chinese-made robots as their platforms, running unique AI solutions on Chinese hardware. This allowed foreign teams to experience the capabilities of China’s robotic infrastructure firsthand
While China’s humanoid robots demonstrated remarkable speed, adaptability, and real-world task-solving ability, challenges remain—particularly around the “brain” or higher-level AI cognition. However, experts predict that breakthroughs in understanding and interacting with the environment on a human level are within reach in the next few years, potentially securing China’s lead in the global robotics race.
