The inaugural FAI World Drone Soccer Championships kicks off in Shanghai, China this weekend with futuristic and fast-paced matches set to bring the thrills of a team game to the world of air sports.
Drone Soccer is a groundbreaking discipline that introduces a new “match” dynamic to the world of air sports: players work together as a team to get a striker drone into a goal, while defending their own against the opposing team.
The 2025 FAI World Drone Soccer Championships will take place from 15 to 18 November 2025, hosted by the Aero Sports Federation of China (ASFC) in collaboration with the Shanghai Science and Technology Sports Management Centre.
Eighteen nations have entered teams into this World Championship, in one or both of the two classes: F9A-A: 5 active players (+ 2 substitutes) with larger drones (up to 40 cm diameter) and F9A-B: 3 active players (+ 2 substitutes) with smaller drones (up to 20 cm diameter)
The event will be open to the public, with live display screens and real-time scoring available in the stadium as well as via digital platforms. Spectator safety will be assured with protective screens designed not to affect the visibility of the action.
President of the FAI Aeromodelling Commission, Antonis Papadopoulos said “All the players are thrilled to have their sport recognised at World Championship level and to compete alongside the best international teams at such a wonderful venue in Shanghai. It has been exciting to see this new team air sport develop among the drone sport community, and we’re proud to have brought it to a global stage.”
Alongside the competition, public events to celebrate the World Championships will include drone light displays, an aeromodelling carnival and interactive exhibits.
What is Drone Soccer?
Exciting to watch and play, Drone Soccer takes football to a whole new 3D level, as teams control their drones (encased in an orb) around the caged ‘pitch’.
Each team’s drones are lit up with their team colours, and one player is the ‘striker’ – the aim is to get the striker drone into the goal to score. Other players must aid their teammate to score whilst the opposing team defends their goal. There are three sets of three minutes each.
Precision flying, teamwork and strategy combine to make a thrilling, fast-paced competition.
