The FIFA World Cup, soccer’s most important and prestigious tournament, begins next weekend in North America, marking the first time the competition is hosted by three nations: Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Spectators attending the matches will be in for another premiere, before even reaching their seats. Hyundai-backed Boston Dynamics will reportedly deploy its four-legged robot “dogs” at FIFA World Cup venues in North Texas, according to Dallas Express.
Robotic Dogs Will Be Used For Security Inspections At Some World Cup Venues
The robot dogs, known as Spot robots, will be used for security inspections and hazardous-material investigations. We’re not sure how safe and relaxed people will feel seeing the robot dogs around the stadiums, but Boston Dynamics has made one thing clear: the robots will not be used for facial scanning of fans attending the matches.
The company had to make this clarification after rumors spread on social media that “face-scanning robots” were being used in Dallas to verify the identities of World Cup ticket holders. The rumors started surfacing after a video of the robots gained traction on social media due to claims that the robots have alleged facial recognition capabilities.
Hyundai
Since people raised many privacy concerns on various platforms because of this, Boston Dynamics issued a statement clarifying what exactly the robots will be doing during the World Cup.
“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,” a company spokesperson said in a statement to WFAA.
Boston Dynamics added that the robots’ role will be to support security personnel rather than identify spectators or verify their tickets.
Four-Legged Robots Will Be Used For World Cup Events In Mexico Too
These robot dogs are apparently a security measure. They “sniff” out chemicals and peculiar packages. I can’t find anything on these robot dogs scanning people’s faces. It’s a security measure, and entertainment for the FIFA World Cup.
It dances too lol In the video no one…
— Lisa Brown (@blisa655) June 3, 2026
FIFA joined Boston Dynamics in clarifying the issue. “FIFA is proud of its official robotics partner Hyundai and their collaboration with Boston Dynamics for the deployment of advanced technology to enhance safety and security during the World Cup. Specifically, robotic patrol dogs are being used for asset protection at the IBC and NYNJ Stadium to identify and report physical security threats and risks for further human intervention,” reads a statement from the soccer global governing body.
The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas will serve as the FIFA World Cup’s International Broadcast Center (IBC).
Hyundai
Agencies in Mexico are also using robotic dogs for the World Cup events, albeit for a slightly different purpose. They help scout potentially dangerous areas and relay live video feeds to security teams, according to Dallas Express.
This is not the first time robotic dogs are used at sporting events. They have also appeared at cricket matches in the UK, professional football games in Atlanta, and the Indianapolis 500 IndyCar race.
Hyundai
