GSMA announces Humanoid Robot Football Penalties Challenge, set to debut at MWC26 Shanghai

Beijing, 10 April 2026 — The GSMA has announced that MWC26 Shanghai will see the debut of the “Humanoid Robot Football Penalties Challenge”, a new international robotics competition.

MWC Shanghai, Asia’s largest and most influential connectivity event, taking place from 24-26 June 2026, will host the robotics competition which is designed as a systems-level showcase of embodied intelligence.

In anticipation of football fever gripping the world this summer, the challenge aims to bring teams together from around the world for a penalty-based competition, demonstrating how advanced connectivity and AI enable real-time decision-making, motion control, and precision in humanoid machines.

Teams will warm up onsite from 23 June, ahead of the penalties challenge heats taking place from 24-25 June. Awards will recognise technical performance and execution, including Top Scorer, Best Goalkeeper, and Best Goal Celebration.

Robotics teams must register their interest in participating by 31 May here. An organising committee is steering the shape of the challenge, with members including the AI 100, AIIA, and Xinhua.net.

John Hoffman, CEO of GSMA Ltd., said: “MWC26 Shanghai will bring together key industry players, government entities and technology innovators from around the world to catalyse digital transformation that drives meaningful impact. The event is shaping up to be a really strong edition, with an exciting mix of exhibitors, speakers, and new event features showcasing cutting-edge AI and robotics. MWC is an event focused on creating opportunities for the whole ecosystem - we look forward to welcoming you to Shanghai in June.” 

Sihan Bo Chen, Head of Greater China at GSMA, said: “MWC Shanghai has always been a platform where innovation meets real-world impact. The Humanoid Robot Football Penalties Challenge will demonstrate how connectivity and AI come together to enable intelligent systems to operate in dynamic, real-world environments. By bringing together industry leaders, developers and visionaries, we aim to accelerate progress in robotics and unlock new opportunities for collaboration across the mobile ecosystem.” 

Today’s announcements and remarks were made at GSMA's Post-MWC Sharing Event in Beijing, an annual gathering where GSMA shares insights from MWC26 Barcelona with China's mobile industry ahead of MWC26 Shanghai.

MWC26 Shanghai: the place to engage with Asia’s dynamic tech market 

MWC26 Shanghai marks the 13th edition of the event and builds on the momentum of 2025, which welcomed 45,000 attendees from 128 countries and featured more than 400 exhibitors and sponsors.

A growing line up of exhibitors, sponsors and strategic partners for MWC26 Shanghai includes industry leaders such as China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom – in addition to 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 organisations 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); alongside, strategic 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 Co.

The thought leadership programme will centre on four themes - Intelligent Infrastructure, ConnectAI, AI 4 Enterprise and Mobile AI. The conference agenda will feature summits providing deep insights on topics including AI Devices, AI Beyond Boundaries, eSIMs, Future Networks and Smart Mobility – and are set to be led by experts from industry, government and the research community.

New zones and flagship initiatives 

MWC26 Shanghai will introduce new and expanded zones showcasing technologies already being tested or deployed globally, including: 

• Mobile AI Innovation Frontiers: a full-stack showcase of mobile-first AI, featuring live demonstrations of advanced chipsets, hyperscale AI servers, frontier models and AI-native hardware: from robots and glasses to phones and vehicles. Find the Humanoid Robot Football Penalties Challenge in this space.  
• Constellations of the Future: a new initiative debuting ahead of ITU WRC-27, focused on non-terrestrial networks (NTN), direct-to-device connectivity and satellite-mobile convergence.  

In 2026, the GSMA will launch the first GLOMOs Asia at MWC Shanghai, recognising excellence across mobile technology, services and solutions.  

The GSMA Policy Leaders Forum will return to MWC Shanghai, convening senior policymakers, regulators, legislators and industry leaders in an invite-only, closed door programme. It will explore the policy enablers behind emerging technologies, the rapid evolution toward 5G Advanced, and the growing convergence of AI, digital infrastructure, and industrial transformation.  

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.  

-ENDS- 

About the GSMA  

The GSMA is a global organisation unifying the mobile ecosystem to discover, develop and deliver innovation foundational to positive business environments and societal change. Our vision is to unlock the full power of connectivity so that people, industry, and society thrive. Representing mobile operators and organisations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, the GSMA delivers for its members across three broad pillars: Connectivity for Good, Industry Services and Solutions, and Outreach. This activity includes advancing policy, tackling today’s biggest societal challenges, underpinning the technology and interoperability that make mobile work, and providing the world’s largest platform to convene the mobile ecosystem at the MWC and M360 series of events.  

We invite you to find out more at gsma.com