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The GSMA has revealed that MWC26 Shanghai will introduce the “Humanoid Robot Football Penalties Challenge,” a brand-new global robotics tournament.
MWC Shanghai, one of Asia’s biggest and most significant technology and connectivity events, scheduled for 24-26 June 2026, will host this robotics competition designed to showcase embodied intelligence at a systems level.
With global excitement for football building this summer, the challenge is set to unite teams from across the world for a penalty shootout-style contest, highlighting how cutting-edge connectivity and AI allow humanoid robots to make real-time decisions, control their movements, and demonstrate precision.
Teams will get ready onsite starting 23 June, before the penalty challenge heats run from 24-25 June. Prizes will be given for technical skill and performance, including Top Scorer, Best Goalkeeper, and Best Goal Celebration.
Robotics teams interested in joining must sign up before 31 May here. A planning committee is shaping the competition, with members including AI 100, AIIA, and Xinhua.net.
John Hoffman, CEO of GSMA, said: “MWC26 Shanghai will gather key industry players, government organizations, and technology pioneers from across the globe to speed up digital transformation that creates real impact. The event is shaping up to be a standout edition, with a thrilling lineup of exhibitors, speakers, and fresh event features highlighting the latest in AI and robotics. MWC is all about opening doors for the entire ecosystem — we can’t wait to welcome you to Shanghai in June.”
Sihan Bo Chen, GSMA’s head of Greater China, said: “MWC Shanghai has always been a stage where innovation connects with practical impact. The Humanoid Robot Football Penalties Challenge will show how connectivity and AI combine to make intelligent systems work in dynamic, real-world settings. By bringing together industry leaders, developers, and forward-thinkers, we want to push robotics forward faster and create new chances for collaboration across the mobile ecosystem.”
These updates and comments were shared at GSMA’s Post-MWC Sharing Event in Beijing, a yearly gathering where GSMA presents highlights from MWC26 Barcelona to China’s mobile industry ahead of MWC26 Shanghai.
MWC26 Shanghai: The ideal place to connect with Asia’s fast-growing tech market
MWC26 Shanghai is the 13th edition of the event and builds on the success of 2025, which brought in 45,000 visitors from 128 countries and included over 400 exhibitors and sponsors.
An expanding roster of exhibitors, sponsors, and strategic partners for MWC26 Shanghai features major names like China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom — along with AgiBot, Alibaba Cloud, APSAT, Asiainfo, China BroadNet, China Tower, CICT, HONOR, Huawei, Intel, Lenovo, NTT DATA, Qualcomm, Quectel, Singtel, Telenor, YOFC, and ZTE; industry and international groups such as 5G-ACIA, 5GAA, AIIA, CHINA EV100, Fraunhofer, GTI, Mobile World Capital, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the World Broadband Association (WBBA); plus zone partners including China Mobile (Chengdu) Institute of Research and Development, China Mobile Group Device Co, China Telecom Low Altitude Economic Industry Alliance, and Unicom Vsens Telecommunications.
The thought leadership programme will revolve around four core themes — Intelligent Infrastructure, ConnectAI, AI 4 Enterprise, and Mobile AI. The conference agenda will feature summits diving deep into topics like AI Devices, AI Beyond Boundaries, eSIMs, Future Networks, and Smart Mobility — all led by experts from industry, government, and the research community.
New zones and flagship initiatives
MWC26 Shanghai will launch new and expanded zones presenting technologies already being piloted or rolled out globally, including:
- Mobile AI Innovation Frontiers: a complete end-to-end showcase of mobile-first AI, featuring hands-on demonstrations of advanced chipsets, hyperscale AI servers, frontier models, and AI-native hardware — from robots and glasses to phones and vehicles. The Humanoid Robot Football Penalties Challenge will take place in this zone.
- Constellations of the Future: a new program launching ahead of ITU WRC-27, centered on non-terrestrial networks (NTN), direct-to-device connectivity, and satellite-mobile integration.
In 2026, the GSMA will debut the first-ever GLOMOs Asia at MWC Shanghai, celebrating outstanding achievements across mobile technology, services, and solutions.
The GSMA Policy Leaders Forum will return to MWC Shanghai, bringing together senior policymakers, regulators, legislators, and industry leaders in an invite-only, closed-door program. It will explore the policy drivers behind emerging technologies, the rapid shift toward 5G Advanced, and the growing blend of AI, digital infrastructure, and industrial change. MWC26 Shanghai will take place from 24 to 26 June 2026 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC). Registration is now open at www.mwcshanghai.com.
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