Mexican authorities have announced that robotic dogs will be deployed to support police operations during the 2026 World Cup this summer, as part of enhanced security measures around the tournament.
The four-legged machines are intended to access high-risk locations and transmit live video footage to security personnel, allowing officers to assess situations remotely before intervening during the football event.
The international tournament, scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19, will be jointly hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada.
The robot dogs were purchased for 2.5 million pesos ($145,000) by the municipal government of Guadalupe, a city within the Monterrey metropolitan area that will serve as one of the World Cup host locations.
Footage released by local authorities shows one of the robots moving through a deserted building, navigating corridors and attempting to climb stairs, albeit with visible difficulty.
The robo-hound can be seen transmitting live images to a group of police officers who follow closely behind while remaining concealed.
In the demonstration, the canine robot encounters an armed man and orders him to drop his weapon through a built-in loudspeaker.
The purpose of the robot dogs is “to support police officers with initial intervention… to protect the physical safety of officers,” said Guadalupe mayor Hector Garcia.
They will be deployed “in case of any altercation,” he added.
BBVA Stadium, which will be known as Estadio Monterrey during the tournament, is set to host four World Cup matches.
