The FIRST Global Challenge is an olympics-style, international robotics competition that takes place in a different country each year. FIRST Global invites each nation to send a team to build and program a robot to compete. Teams work together to complete tasks in a game themed around one of the greatest challenges facing our planet, including the 14 Grand Challenges for Engineering, in an effort to foster understanding and cooperation among the youth of the world as they use their abilities to solve the world’s problems. The challenges we face as a global society need to be solved, and the next generation can meet the task — together.
From 26-29 September 2024, students from 190+ countries will unite in Athens, Greece. As the home of the ancient and modern Olympics, we are proud to bring the world together in a city with a rich history of international collaboration and global sports.
FIRST Global believes that by making science and technology as exciting as any other sport, we can inspire the world’s two billion youth to pursue STEM fields and be the leaders who collectively solve our planet’s most pressing problems.
The FIRST Global Challenge is a truly international robotics event, with nations around the world welcomed to participate. Our spirit of openness is a core FIRST Global value, grounded in our belief that while politics often divides, technology unites. We seek to bring together youth from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and experiences and inspire and motivate them to become the leaders and innovators of the future, working together to build a better world.
By clicking on the map below, you will find information for the teams participating in this year’s FIRST Global Challenge. You can also click on a country to support the national team! Our map will be updated as we receive new information. Confirmed nations are highlighted in green.
Teams not visible on the map: American Samoa; Cayman Islands; Hong Kong, China; Kiribati; Marshall Islands; Tonga.
Want to develop your STEM skills? From coding and programming, to 3-D modeling, CAD, and simulation, to building robots, to other learning opportunities, we’ve compiled a variety of resources to aid in your learning journey.
The seventh edition of the FIRST Global Challenge, held in Singapore, challenged teams to reimagine energy by harnessing hydrogen to create more sustainable ways to power our planet.
Geneva served as a fitting convener for the sixth edition of the FIRST Global Challenge, uniting youth to come up with practical solutions to mitigate the negative effects of climate change.
The fifth edition of the FIRST Global Challenge focused on advancing new ways STEM can provide practical solutions to pandemic-related problems youth and their communities face across the world.
With the theme of “Connecting Communities,” the fourth FIRST Global Challenge connected the FIRST Global Community around the world to learn, innovate, and make change together during the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the theme of “Ocean Opportunities,” the third FIRST Global Challenge took place in Dubai, with 191 countries participating in the 2019 season.
Themed around the impact of energy, the second iteration of the event took place in Mexico City, with 186 countries participating in the 2018 season.
Themed around providing access to clean water, the inaugural event in Washington, D.C. brought together 157 countries and kicked off FIRST Global and our efforts to positively impact youth around the world through STEM education and opportunities.