Dear RoboCuppers,
RoboCup has stood as a uniquely enduring and deeply inspiring force in robotics and artificial intelligence since its founding. For nearly three decades, it has evolved through the self-driven motivation, passion, and extraordinary commitment of its global community of participants. This shared spirit has shaped RoboCup into the world’s largest and most influential robotics competition.
Today, the initiative enters a pivotal turning point. Robotics and AI are advancing at an extraordinary pace, and the emergence of a new generation of robots, algorithms, and enabling technologies represents a rare historical opportunity. RoboCup aims to seize this moment and continue leading that transformation.
As a result, changes are being introduced to the international RoboCup competitions — the program’s global showcase to the world. All advancements across soccer-focused leagues will be unified under a single umbrella centered on humanoid robot soccer. At the same time, RoboCup will accelerate progress in robotics and AI by extending humanoid platforms into broader domains, including @home, work, and rescue applications.
Let’s write the next chapter of RoboCup together.
On behalf of the RoboCup Board of Trustees
Ubbo Visser
(President)
Details of Changes for the International RoboCup Competition
(Note: Existing leagues may continue to operate at super-regionals, opens, and community-driven events.)
Standard Platform League and Humanoid KidSize League
The SPL and Humanoid League KidSize divisions will immediately begin a merger process, with the goal of forming a unified league by 2026 (final name to be determined). Teams across all soccer-related leagues will be invited to participate in and help shape this transition.
Small Size League, Middle Size League, and Soccer Simulation Leagues
2027 is expected to be the final year of international competition for the SSL, MSL, and soccer simulation leagues, subject to sufficient participation levels. The intention is to transition scientific advances from these leagues into humanoid robot soccer in the future.
The community is encouraged to propose new concepts for how these leagues can evolve, serving as a bridge that supports participants progressing from Junior leagues into Major league competition.
RoboCupRescue Simulation League
The 2025 season marks the final year of the RoboCupRescue Simulation League as an independent category at the international level. Teams are encouraged to engage with the RoboCup Rescue Robot League to explore potential merger concepts and shared evaluation frameworks.
RoboCup@Home
A single unified RoboCup @Home League structure comes into effect immediately. The 2025 competition will be the last to feature separate sub-leagues.
RoboCupIndustrial
The @Work and Logistics streams will merge into a new RoboCup Smart Manufacturing League, forming a unified Smart Manufacturing League (SML) for the 2026 and 2027 competitions, with the aim of better addressing emerging challenges in autonomous production and logistics systems.