Robots, innovation and fierce competition will take centre stage on March 15 and 16 in Markham with the FIRA Canada Open 2025.
More than just a tournament, it serves as Canada’s gateway to the FIRA RoboWorld Cup 2025 in South Korea, one of the world’s most prestigious robotics championships.
Founded in 1996 by professor Jong-Hwan Kim of KAIST, the Federation of International Robot Sports Association (FIRA) is the oldest robot soccer competition in the world.
Over the years, it has expanded beyond soccer to include cutting-edge competitions in autonomous flying robots, urban search-and-rescue technology and youth-driven challenges, making it a global hub for robotics innovation.
Markham Councillor Amanda Collucci, who worked closely with FIRA Canada, Destination Markham and the City of Markham to bring the event to the city, expressed her excitement about hosting the international qualifier.
“It’s exciting news that FIRA Canada Open 2025 will be hosted here at Markham’s Aaniin Community Centre. After nearly a year of collaboration, we are thrilled to welcome top robotics talent from across Canada and beyond,” she said.
Samia Karimi, president of FIRA Canada, highlighted the broader impact of the competition beyond just the tournament itself.
“This competition is not just about robotics; it’s about preparing the next generation of engineers, programmers and innovators for the future,” said Karimi.
While registration is now closed, Karimi noted that interested school teams may still reach out to FIRA Canada directly for potential participation.
Meanwhile, visitors are welcome to attend the two-day event, which will feature more than just competitions.
“Besides the main competition, there are some fun activities planned, including a robotics party,” Karimi added.
As a key qualifier, the top three teams from FIRA Canada Open 2025 will earn their spot at the FIRA RoboWorld Cup 2025 in South Korea, ensuring that Canada’s best and brightest compete on the global stage.
The event is expected to attract 250 in-person competitors and 150 virtual participants, with teams from Egypt, Nepal, Turkey, China, Iran, Germany, the U.S. and Canada all set to showcase their robotics prowess.
Additionally, the FIRA Under competition will debut alongside the main event, providing young innovators with a new platform to develop their skills and gain international recognition.
Scarlett Liu is a federally funded Local Journalism Initiative reporter at Markham Economist & Sun