3D Printing
How a robot with 3D printed foot helped get FIFA pitch-perfect

The fLEX device is a robotic kicking simulator from a UT/Michigan State team working with FIFA: a 3D printed foot inside a real football boot, loaded with high-precision sensors. It covers 77 zones per pitch in ~40 minutes, replicating a 165-lb player's impact. Every one of the 16 World Cup 2026 venues was tested with it ahead of Thursday's opening.

3Jun 9, 2026, 10:21 PM