Sports fans score big as drone soccer blends tech with teamwork

A novel sporting event blending drone technology with soccer has sparked a wave of enthusiasm in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, attracting more than 10,000 participants across all genders and varying age groups.

The three-day Ablefly National Drone Soccer Championship Finals, sponsored by the Chengdu city government and the Chinese Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics, concluded on Monday evening, having hosted 1,116 teams from home and abroad.

In the 5v5 drone soccer matches, each team scores by maneuvering specially designed drones inside 20-centimeter-diameter protective spherical frames through the opponent's goal hoop, which is suspended in the air.

Ousama Mahamad Senoussi Ahmad, a student from the Republic of Chad at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, said he fell in love with drone soccer after trying it for the first time in 2025.

The amateur soccer player noted that the sport has a lot in common with regular soccer in tactics and teamwork but offers the added thrill of operating a drone.

Li Yuanchen, 14, from Yongchuan middle school in Chongqing, sees the sport as a platform for personal growth.

"This sport truly tests teamwork, ball control, and hand-eye coordination," he said. "The experience of fighting alongside my teammates has been incredibly rewarding."

Zhao Yuanhang, a teacher from Jitian primary school located in the Tianfu New Area in Sichuan, led three teams to the event. Zhao said the blend of technology and entertainment has turned the sport into a hit with students.

"Every day after class, lots of students would come up to ask me about the drone soccer training schedule," he said.

Wang Yi, director of the Chengdu city bureau of sports, emphasized that integrating emerging industries like drones with sports helps bring high technology into everyday life, creating a robust foundation for industrial development.

Chengdu, a key hub for China's drone industry, has set a target to establish itself as a national leader in drone soccer, making the sport a signature sporting event for the city.

The city also plans to organize drone sports events in the near future, introducing more innovative disciplines such as drone basketball and drone fencing, Wang added.

Wen Ge, president of the Qingyang district aviation association in Chengdu, told National Business Daily that Chengdu's strategy for promoting drone soccer differs from that of traditional sports by prioritizing competitions to drive participation, rather than waiting for widespread participation before organizing events.

He added that the association plans to launch interest-based courses in schools and collaborate with industry partners to refine drone soccer technology. The goal is to establish accessible venues across communities, shopping centers, and youth centers, ensuring a steady influx of new participants to sustain the sport's growth and development.

pengchao@chinadaily.com.cn