RoboCupJunior USA
Welcome to RoboCupJunior USA!!
The RoboCupJunior USA competition challenges students up to 19 years old to work collaboratively as a team to design, create, and code robots to solve problems. The competition is divided into three leagues - Soccer, Rescue, and OnStage. The robots are fully autonomous, using sensors to explore the world around them and make decisions without human intervention. The competition is open to students with any level of experience, and teams can use any tool or technology they want - from modifying preexisting robotics kits to building everything from scratch.
Winning teams may earn the distinction of advancing to the RoboCupJunior International Competition, the youth division of RoboCup—widely regarded as the world’s premier robotics and artificial intelligence event. RoboCup 2027 will be held on June 17–21, 2027, at the Nuremberg Exhibition Center in Germany. In 2026, the event brought together elite teams from 40+ countries, with 120+ RoboCupJunior teams competing across five highly selective leagues—making qualification a mark of true international standing.
Please note that each region, including RCJ/USA, may adapt the field rules slightly to fit regional needs. RCJ/USA often makes every effort to align our field rules with the official World rules for every season. Any major differences will be announced either in January of each year or when open registration for the season begins. Please contact us if you need further assistance.
2027 - Two separate events this season: Spot Selection and the National Event
Why? The RoboCupJunior international championship takes place June 15–21, 2027 in Nuremberg, Germany. Holding our selection event in May, as we usually do, would not leave teams enough time to plan the trip. So this season, selection for Nuremberg and our national event are two separate events:
Event 1: Spot Selection for Nuremberg (completed by the end of March 2027)
This is how RCJ USA decides which teams it invites to the international championship.
New this season: teams will be required to fill a Spot Selection Application Form to be considered for an invitation - available no later than October 15th.
Event 2: RCJ USA National Event (June 2027)
A national-level competition planned for June 5–6 or June 12–13, 2027.
Separate from World Championship Spot Selection: This event will not determine which teams receive invitations to Nuremberg.
Double the competitive fun: Alongside the national-level competition, teams will have an additional opportunity to showcase their projects, with a chance to earn recognition for their work.
No need to apply for a spot, or complete the survey, to attend.
More details will be announced over the next couple of months.
What to do now:
To help us plan, we ask every RCJ USA team that wishes to take part in any event in the 2027 season to fill out a form by October 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET. The form will no later than October 10th. Stay tuned.
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