Drone soccer has grown rapidly as the first official team‑based aerial sport recognised by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI). The FAI Drone Soccer International Series creates a unified global competition circuit designed to build official world rankings for national drone‑soccer teams across the globe. Governed under the CIAM (International Aeromodelling Commission) general regulations, this series brings together national sides at Category 2 international events, following the sporting code for the F9 drone‑sports discipline.
What Is the FAI Drone Soccer International Series?
Per CIAM General Rules, an International Series is a collection of sanctioned international competitions built around a clear objective. For drone‑soccer, the core mission is to establish credible, updated world rankings for national teams in the F9A‑B subclass (20 cm‑diameter drone ball).
All matches within the series run in a 3‑versus‑3 (3×3) team format. Only events formally registered within the FAI Application Management System as CIAM Category 2 Open International events are eligible to award series ranking points, and all tournaments must adhere to the current edition of the FAI Sporting Code Volume F9 for drone sports.
Host organisers are permitted to fill vacant tournament bracket spots with local guest teams up to a maximum of 16 participating sides. This measure improves event logistics, supports financial viability, and guarantees full‑format match‑play, with ranking points allocated according to final tournament placement for each registered national team.
Team Eligibility & Licence Requirements
Drone‑soccer under FAI rules is strictly a national‑representative team sport.
- Each participating country may register two official national teams, named with their country identifier (examples: USA 1, USA‑2). No single athlete is allowed to be listed for more than one team within a competition year.
- Every team member must satisfy FAI nationality‑or‑residency criteria to compete for their nominated nation.
- All competing pilots and team managers require a valid FAI Sporting Licence issued by their respective National Air‑Sport Control (NAC) body. An FAI Drone Permission may substitute the full sporting licence for competitors who hold the host nation’s nationality or valid local residency status, especially useful for territories where national drone‑soccer programmes are still emerging.
Competition Format & FAI F9A Sub‑Classes
FAI defines two hardware sub‑classes for drone‑soccer:
- F9A‑A: 40 cm drone‑ball, played within a 6 m × 12 m netted arena
- F9A‑B: 20 cm drone‑ball, played within a compact 3 m × 6 m netted indoor arena. All 2026 International Series events operate under the F9A‑B subclass.
Matches take place entirely inside safety‑netted enclosures. Each side designates one distinct striker drone, visually marked with flags or coloured LEDs; only the striker can register goals by flying fully through the opponent’s aerial goal hoop. Remaining pilots operate as defenders and support players to block opposition attacks and create scoring opportunities for their own striker.
Standard match structure consists of three independent 3‑minute sets. Pilots stand at opposite ends of the pitch, controlling spherical‑cage drones fitted with bright LED lighting for clear team identification for players, referees and spectators alike. Thanks to full spherical protective frames, the sport permits full‑contact mid‑air collisions without immediate risk of blade injury or catastrophic hardware failure.
2026 FAI F9A‑B World Rankings (April 2026)
Rankings are calculated from accumulated points earned across eligible series tournaments:
表格
| Rank | Team | Total Accumulated Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany 1 | 20 |
| 2 | Türkiye 1 | 20 |
| 3 | Germany 2 | 15 |
| 4 | USA 2 | 14 |
| 5 | USA 1 | 13 |
| 6 | Türkiye 2 | 10 |
| 7 | Belgium 1 | 8 |
| 8 | France 1 | 6 |
| 9 | France 2 | 6 |
| 10 | Belgium 2 | 5 |
| 11 | Hong Kong 2 | 4 |
| 11 | Hong Kong 1 | 4 |
| 13 | Belgium 3 | 2 |
Completed 2026 Series Events
German International Drone Soccer Cup – Aalen, Germany | 13‑15 March 2026
- Türkiye 1 – 10 pts
- Germany 1 – 9 pts
- Türkiye 2 – 7 pts
- Germany 2 – 6 pts
- Bulgaria 1 – 1 pt
Paris International Drone Soccer F9A‑B – Paris, France | April 2026
This Category 2 tournament contributed points towards the global world‑ranking table, with national teams from North America and across Europe competing for series standings points.
2026 FAI Drone Soccer International Series Calendar
Below are confirmed FAI‑sanctioned tournaments counting toward the 2026 international series world rankings:
- Australia Drone Soccer International Cup – Sydney, Australia | 1‑2 August 2026
- FAI Hong Kong Open Drone Soccer Championship – Hong Kong, China | 22‑23 August 2026
- Istanbul Drone Soccer International Cup – Istanbul, Türkiye | 17‑19 September 2026
- Drone ARENA Soccer Cup 2026 – Sofia, Bulgaria | 6‑9 October 2026 (held alongside Inter Drone Expo)
- Long Beach Drone Soccer International Cup – Long Beach, California, USA | 17‑18 October 2026
Official Documents & Resources
Full governing regulations are available for download via the official FAI website:
- 2026 FAI Drone Soccer International Series Rules Version 1.2 (core rule‑book for the global series)
Why FAI‑Sanctioned Drone‑Soccer Matters
Drone‑soccer stands out as a unique full‑contact team aerial sport merging radio‑controlled drone piloting with soccer‑style tactical gameplay. Beyond competitive matches, it delivers proven educational value for STEM programmes, teaching aerodynamics, spatial awareness, teamwork and strategic thinking for youth and adult participants.
By competing within the FAI International Series, national federations, school‑based teams and club athletes gain access to unified technical standards, neutral international judging and globally‑recognised world rankings. Whether you are an event organiser, team manager, coach or equipment supplier, the FAI series creates a level playing‑field for drone‑soccer growth across every continent.
If you are preparing your team for upcoming F9A‑B competition events, ensure all pilots hold valid licensing, your drone‑ball hardware complies with F9A‑B dimensional specifications, and review the latest official bulletin for each tournament for entry deadlines, venue logistics and protest procedures.
