Clément Maire
That’s the question I asked myself when Pascal Roignau, a pioneer of drone soccer in Europe, first told me about the sport. While looking for new experiences alongside my journalism studies, Juliette Briand, my program director at Mediaschool Rennes, told me about an innovative and ambitious project and put me in touch with Pascal : creating a magazine from scratch focused on Drone Soccer. Although I’m a big sports fan, I had completely missed this tech-sport discipline originating in Asia, which was gaining momentum in Europe. After researching the subject, it became clear to me that Drone Soccer was missing something to take it to the next level. The sport was certainly growing in terms of competition and events… But Drone Soccer lacked one thing: a sustainable media presence. That’s when, in April 2026, I launched Drone Soccer Mag, the very first international magazine dedicated to Drone Soccer news. We offer a variety of formats to help you discover or rediscover THE sport of the future in all its facets. Asia, Europe, Africa, the Americas, Technology, Education, Competition, Profiles, Features. In short, here we explore Drone Soccer from every angle !
Pascal Roignau
After discovering Drone Soccer through the Korean FIDA in 2018, I was the first to bring the concept to Europe, primarily to France, through Drone Soccer France. Today, no fewer than 33 countries worldwide have joined the movement; the competitive scene has grown significantly with the first World Cup set for Korea in 2025, and the educational aspect of the sport is strengthening the connection between Drone Soccer and educational systems around the globe. But there was still something missing for us to continue growing. Appearing at trade shows and forming partnerships on various scales is one thing, but now we needed to get people talking about us. And for that, what better than a journalist to create a media outlet from scratch ? I mean, really! Drone Soccer has been around for nearly 10 years, and yet no one had thought of it before. I felt that it was the right time to take the next step in the development of Drone Soccer and, above all, that I was capable of taking on the responsibility of such a project. And since I like to bet on young talent, thanks to Juliette Briand and Mediaschool Rennes, I met a young journalist full of curiosity—exactly what I was looking for to lead this project—Clément Maire. Since then, he has done his research and had the opportunity to meet and talk with the world’s leading figures in drone soccer to learn every detail of the sport and create this missing piece of the puzzle : the first magazine dedicated entirely to drone soccer, Drone Soccer Mag !
Happy reading, everyone
The Editorial Team
But what exactly is Drone Soccer?
A blend of soccer, esports, and aerial technology, “Drone Soccer”—or drone soccer—is gradually establishing itself as one of the most amazing futuristic sports of the moment. Originating in South Korea, this combination of drone piloting and team strategy now attracts thousands of players worldwide.
Drone Soccer was conceived in 2016 in the city of Jeonju by the Camtic Institute of Technology, an institute specializing in new technologies. The goal : to create an accessible, spectacular, and safe sport centered around drones. The first official rules were published in 2017 under the initiative of the FIDA (International Drone Soccer Association).
The idea was simple yet original : to transform drones into actual “flying balls” using a protective spherical shell. The drones can then collide in mid-air without being immediately destroyed, making the game much more dynamic.
How is it played?
The concept is similar to soccer… but in the air.
Two teams of five players face off in an enclosed arena called the “Skyfence” or “Arena.” Each player pilots a droneball enclosed in a round plastic or carbon fiber shell.
The main rules are simple :
• Only one drone per team can score : the “striker” (forward).
• To score a goal, this drone must pass through a ring suspended in the air called the “Donut.”
• The other players defend, block, or clear the way.
• A match is usually played in two 3-minute periods
.
Drone Soccer is often described as a blend of sporting and cultural references: soccer, esports, drone racing, or even the more fantastical Quidditch from the Harry Potter universe created by J.K. Rowling.
But unlike FPV drone racing, it demands entirely different skills. Here, pure speed is not the central element. Teamwork and tactics are essential.
The sport also has an important educational dimension : several South Korean and international schools and universities are already using Drone Soccer to introduce young people to robotics, piloting, and coding.
And on the competitive front, the phenomenon is growing rapidly.
The Federation of International Dronesoccer Associations, founded in 2022, now oversees the sport’s global development. It has more than twenty member countries and organizes international competitions.
In South Korea, there are already:
• Dozens of tournaments each year,
• Approximately 2,500 teams,
• National championships,
• And even dedicated school programs.
The first major FIDA World Championship took place in 2023, and every continent is developing its own competitive scene on its own scale year after year.
Unsurprisingly, South Korea largely dominates the sector. The country is considered the global birthplace of Drone Soccer and is investing heavily in infrastructure, leagues, and training. The city of Jeonju is even building a stadium entirely dedicated to this sport.
But other countries are rapidly catching up:
• Japan
• China
• United States
• France
• United Kingdom
• Malaysia
• Mexico
• Turkey
The sport of the future?
With its glowing drones, aerial collisions, and an atmosphere reminiscent of esports, Drone Soccer is particularly appealing to younger generations. Many observers see it as a major future tech sport, capable of combining competition, innovation, and education.
South Korea’s goal is clear: to make Drone Soccer a true global sport… 21st-century style.