[CES 2024] High-tech Quidditch: Drone soccer takes flight at CES 2024

Players hold up drone soccer balls, which are controlled by remote controllers to score through a hoop. [FEDERATION OF INTERNATIONAL DRONESOCCER ASSOCIATION]

A sports game with flying balls and hoops high up in the air? No, it's not Quidditch, nor is there any magic involved — it’s drone soccer, a high-tech sport in which players use their aviation skills to compete with remote-controlled drones.

The game will be exhibited in the AI/Robotics Area at CES 2024, held in Las Vegas from Monday to Friday (Pacific Standard Time), according to the Federation of International Dronesoccer Association (FIDA).

Representatives including Jeonju Mayor Woo Bum-ki, Jeonbuk Governor Kim Kwan-young, Jeonbuk National University President Yang Oh-bong and Camtic Institute of Technology President and FIDA Chairman Noh Sang-heup will be present.

In drone soccer, two teams of five compete for a total of three sets, with each set taking three minutes. Each player maneuvers their own drone, which is encased by wiring to be shaped like a ball. Only the striker can score points, which is done by putting the drone-controlled “ball” into the opposing team’s hoop. The others work as the keeper, sweeper, center and forward to either assist in scoring or defend against the opposing team.

FIDA’s aim at CES is to “establish a global bridgehead” for drone soccer, so that the innovative game and the technology involved can be shown to the world. The exhibition will feature a drone soccer tournament, showrooms and equipment used in the sport.

The new SkyKick-Evo, a drone soccer "ball" designed for youth leagues, will make its debut at CES. It has a turbo function for advanced players, functions to insert coding and for automatic flight, and is equipped with an upgraded flexible guard that makes it safer against damage.

The sport was developed in Jeonju, North Jeolla, and first demonstrated in 2016. Over 20 national competitions are held annually in Korea, and players in more than 20 countries including the United States, Japan, China and France also enjoy the sport, according to FIDA.

FIDA will also host its first Jeonju FIDA World Cup in October 2025. According to the organization, 200 national teams from 32 countries will compete to win prizes totaling $1,000,000.

“Drone soccer combines the excitement of the game with educational values. It brings together leading drone technology of the fourth industrial revolution and the world's most popular sport, soccer,” said FIDA Chairman Noh.

BY KIM JU-YEON [kim.juyeon2@joongang.co.kr]