Venezuela wins third FIRST Global Challenge robotics title

Venezuela has secured its third historical victory at the FIRST Global Challenge 2026 robotics championship held in Incheon, South Korea. Competing as part of an alliance with Uzbekistan, Moldova, and El Salvador, the Venezuelan team achieved a score of 530 points to claim the title.

The Venezuelan robot, named Guaira, demonstrated significant progress by rising from 127th in the initial rankings to first place in the playoff standings. The team's success marks their second consecutive championship in this international youth robotics event.

In the same competition, the Bolivian robotics team showed strong performance, provisionally ranking ninth in the world after six matches with an average of 293.2 points. The tournament's central challenge involves a simulated rescue operation where robots must collect colored balls representing people in danger and navigate a metallic structure.

Other top performers in the rankings include Mexico, Uzbekistan, and China. The competition emphasizes technical skills in programming, electronics, and mechanics, alongside international collaboration and communication.