Greetings Humanoid Soccer League (HSL) Teams!
As we move closer to our historic debut in Incheon, South Korea, we have several critical operational updates for all qualified and participating teams. Please review these five key areas to ensure your team is ready for the pitch this June. 1. Jerseys (Extended Submission Due Date: June 1st) Per Rule 4.1, robots must maintain neutral, non-reflective bodies and wear tank top-style jerseys covering at least 50% of the upper body. These jerseys must feature a clear primary color, display unique player numbers on both the front and back, and remain easily distinguishable from the opposing team and officials. Goalkeepers must be uniquely marked, and while sponsorship logos are permitted, they must not interfere with the primary color or visibility of player numbers. Each team is required to provide two distinct solid color designs for approval; please ensure these jersey designs are submitted to the TC mailing list by the June 1st deadline. 2. The Booster Robotics Robot Pool We are excited to confirm the Booster Robotics Robot Pool for HSL 2026. This initiative supports teams that may not yet have their own full fleet of hardware. Available Models: A pool of K1 and T1 humanoid models will be provided by Booster Robotics. For teams that bring 2 K1 robots, they will be eligible to receive up to 3 robots from the pool. For teams that bring 1 T1 robot, they will be eligible to receive up to 2 robots from the pool. For more information, contact Booster Robotics directly. 3. Shipping Information Logistics planning for transporting your robots to South Korea is now underway. Visit https://2026.robocup.org/news/?q=%2Fnews%2F&mod=document&uid=5 for more information. 4. Updated Penalty Rules: Improving Game Safety and Clarity The penalty system has been restructured to better distinguish between tactical fouls and safety violations. Standard in-game infractions are now signaled with a blue card and result in a time penalty. For more serious concerns involving dangerous behavior that risks damage to the field, participants, or other robots, referees will issue yellow or red cards to specific robots. While yellow cards serve as a warning for high-risk play, a direct red card will be issued at the referee’s discretion if a collision causes actual damage or if there is a high danger of recurrence. These changes ensure a safer environment while keeping the game fluid for all teams. 5. Team Posters Every team is encouraged to bring a physical poster to the competition. Format: Preferred A3 format. A4 and similar US formats are also accepted. The poster must be containing the team’s contribution, focused on the current year, to the RoboCup event to share their contributions with the other teams. Teams are responsible for printing their own posters and bringing them to the competition.
Best Regards, Sam Griffiths On behalf of the HSL Technical Committee