Vietnamese students win Future Generations Award at Drone Soccer World Cup

The tournament, organized by the Federation of International Drone Soccer Association (FIDA) from September 24 to 27, is the world’s largest competition for the drone-based sport.

This year’s event brought together 33 national teams, 250 club teams, and more than 2,500 athletes from over 30 countries and territories.

Vietnam’s Drone Soccer team was officially established just days before the tournament, following a decision by the Vietnam Recreational and Electronic Sports Association.

The squad included students from several middle schools in Ho Chi Minh City, such as Nguyen Van Be, Nguyen Du, Tran Van On, Le Quy Don, Binh An, Hoang Hoa Tham, and Tran Quoc Toan.

Despite limited training facilities and equipment, the young Vietnamese athletes advanced to the round of 16 in the international category, where they delivered a thrilling match against Hong Kong before narrowly losing 16–19.

In the Club Class 20 category, Vietnam reached the round of 64 and secured a place among the top 32 out of 192 teams after bowing out to Japan, the eventual champion.

Impressed by Vietnam’s debut, FIDA presented the team with the Future Generations Award for its efforts to promote Drone Soccer among young people and inspire creativity and international integration.

“Your performance has shown great promise and represents the bright future of the sport,” FIDA noted in the award certificate.

Drone soccer, a fast-growing sport that blends traditional football with drone technology, features lightweight drones encased in spherical protective frames.

Players maneuver the drones in an enclosed arena with the naked eye, a format that requires tactical thinking, hand–eye coordination, and teamwork.

Beyond its competitive appeal, the sport is also valued for its educational benefits, helping students develop logical thinking, spatial awareness, concentration, and social skills.