SPOT CHECK

FIFA to Deploy Robot Dogs to Beef Up World Cup Security

Four animatronic dogs, all named Spot, just hit the big leagues.

Four robot dogs are about to start prowling FIFA World Cup sites in Dallas and New Jersey using cameras for eyes. Hyundai and the robotics firm Boston Dynamics built the four-legged machines to help secure security for the tournament, which kicks off across the U.S., Canada and Mexico on June 11. The manufacturers have named all the anamatronics “Spot,” for reasons best known to them. Two will be stationed at the World Cup’s International Broadcast Center in Dallas and two at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The bots use onboard cameras to see and will flag potential threats to the officers monitoring them, FIFA says. The rollout has already spooked some online. After a viral clip claimed the dogs scanned fans’ faces, Boston Dynamics pushed back. “The robots do not have facial recognition capabilities,” a spokesperson said. They are one piece of a vast operation. More than 30 agencies are coordinating on North Texas’ security plan, with undercover and uniformed officers and tight FAA drone restrictions on match days.