Hyundai Motor Group will provide robot dogs for the FIFA World Cup 2026, marking one of the most visible deployments of robotics yet at a global sporting event.
In an official campaign document titled “Next Starts Now”, the company says it is collaborating with Boston Dynamics, the US robotics company it acquired in 2021, to supply robots as part of its tournament support role.
Hyundai said it would deploy Boston Dynamics’ well-known dog-like four-legged patrol robots, branded as “Security Spot”, assisting on-site security operations across venues.
In a press announcement, the company said it is “deploying its largest and most advanced mobility fleet to date, and through its collaboration with Boston Dynamics, becoming the first and only official partner to provide robotics for the tournament.”
Hyundai said the initiative forms part of a broader shift to integrate mobility and robotics into real-world environments. The company has been an official FIFA partner since 1999, providing cars and other vehicles for tournament operations.
The announcement comes as a TikTok video purporting to show a Boston Dynamics robot dog at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, scanning ticket holders’ faces, circulates online, fuelling speculation about surveillance and identity verification technologies at World Cup venues.
The clip has received more than 161,000 likes and 11,000 comments with many viewers comparing the machines to those in the ‘Metalhead’ episode of British dystopian fiction Black Mirror.
When contacted by IoT Insider, a Boston Dynamics spokesman said the robots would not be used for surveillance.
He said: “Boston Dynamics’ Spot robots are being deployed at designated World Cup venues to perform perimeter security inspections and will be used to assist security personnel with investigating things like suspicious packages or other potentially hazardous materials. The robots do not have facial recognition capabilities.”
Separately, Mexican authorities in Guadalupe, Nuevo León, one of the World Cup host regions, have deployed four robot dogs known as “K9-X” at BBVA Stadium as part of broader security preparations.
According to officials, the units function as first-response tools equipped with cameras, night vision, and communication systems, used for patrols, crowd monitoring, and situational awareness. The robots are remotely operated and are intended to support human policing functions.
IoT Insider has approached Boston Dynamics for further details regarding the exact functions the robots will perform.
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