It sounds like a swarm of bugs are buzzing around Eureka Park at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. However, if you look closer, these are small drones encased in transparent soccer balls that have been flown into town from South Korea.
In this particular game, five blue soccer drones take on five red drones. While the action is unfolding on the pitch, they’re being remotely controlled from outside the pitch by skilled operators.
How Does Drone Soccer Work?
Drone soccer is the latest Machina Sport to infuse cutting-edge technology. Each soccer match lasts for nine minutes, broken up into thirds, and the action is unrelenting. The drones are protected by their soccer ball cases and zoom in every direction possible, routinely slamming into each other in a bid to score a goal.
The game is simple but incredibly fun and will give you quidditch vibes, Harry Potter’s favorite sport. To score a goal, you must navigate your drone through the opponent’s goal, which is called a “donut” and is poised 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) in the air. As soon as you pass your drone through the “donut,” it flashes, which indicates you scored.
However, while the rules are simple, flying your drone through a “donut” is a completely different story. Throughout the match, the goal is closely guarded by three defenders who will mercilessly slam your drone to keep you from scoring.
Quidditch of the Future
Drone soccer was invented back in 2016 by a South Korean engineer but only recently has it started to gain mainstream appeal. Professional drone soccer players can even make a living from the sport, which was unheard of a few years ago.
Unsurprisingly, the inventor of drone soccer was heavily influenced by the Harry Potter books, but you won’t find any flying broomsticks here. Instead, the sport is played by drone operators who have incredible finger dexterity. As a new player, you can forget about scoring –Â just trying to keep your drone in the air in a stationary position is very challenging.
After you sail through the “donut”, it turns red. Once this occurs, the scoring player needs to return to their own goal before attempting another attack. Just like in soccer, there are defenders and strikers. Certain players are masters at blocking the ‘donut’ and bumping off would-be attackers, while at the other end of the pitch, strikers weave their way around defenders in Messi-esque fashion before diving through the goal.
Drone Soccer Is Growing
Despite only starting in 2016, drone soccer is now played in 20 countries, including Australia, USA, Brazil, and China. The sport is particularly popular in Asia and still has its core fan base in South Korea. There are now over 2,000 teams in South Korea and as many as 50,000 casual players.
Drone soccer is growing rapidly in America and is proving increasingly popular with teenagers and men in their early 20s. There are over 5,000 drone soccer players in the United States. However, the sport still has a long way to go in the States, as there are only three teams.
The first ever professional drone soccer league was founded in 2023, which proved a big hit, particularly in South Korea. The sport is in the hype growth phase, and there’s a plan to hold the first drone soccer World Cup in October 2025 in South Korea.
Drone soccer organizers are looking to steal a chunk of market share from traditional soccer. It one day envisions billions of people tuning into the drone soccer World Cup. However, it’ll be a long time before they achieve those viewing figures.
Drone Soccer Brings Excitement to Vegas
The exhibition game in Las Vegas is played at a frenetic pace, with the red team surging to a 6-4 lead. In drone soccer, only one player, who is the designated striker, can score goals. However, the main attacker is aided by another striker, which provides a drone shield.
The drones used are extremely lightweight and maneuverable. The maximum a drone can weigh is 1.2 kilos, which includes its battery pack. A standard game features three three-minute periods, and there are five-minute breaks between each third. During these breaks, players bust out their tool kits and run repairs on their drones. The blue team mounts a comeback, and when the final whistle blows, the teams are all square at 11-11!
