Team FSM added another alliance win on the final day of the 2026 FIRST Global Challenge, completing an 11-match run on the international robotics stage.
The students from Pohnpei, representing the Federated States of Micronesia in Incheon, South Korea, finished qualifying with four wins and seven losses. Along the way, they worked with 22 different teams as alliance partners from around the world.
Our new 60-second video follows the team’s final two matches on October 10, with the original event commentary, climbing footage and final results.
Footage: FIRST Global. Photos: Jansper Ponapart / PICS Media Club. Highlights edited for Habele. Opening-day photographs in the video were taken October 7.
A third straight win, then the final match
FSM joined Mauritania and Iraq for a 146–101 victory in Match 300. It was the team’s third consecutive alliance win, following the two victories that closed its second competition day.
In its last qualifying match, FSM partnered with Czechia and host Republic of Korea. Their alliance lost 109–130 to Uganda, Serbia and Comoros. Each score reflects the combined result of a three-team alliance.
The official results place FSM 114th among 185 ranked teams in qualifying. The team did not advance to the 32-team playoffs.
Eleven matches, 22 partners
Each match brought two new partners for FSM. Across the competition, those pairings ranged from fellow Pacific island teams to delegations from Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas.
This year’s Igniting Innovation game used a simulated wildfire challenge. In two-and-a-half-minute matches, students guided robots to move orange balls, climb inclined braces and work toward shared goals. The final-day video captures the announcers following Micronesia’s climbing attempts as play unfolds.
The October 7–10 event at Songdo Convensia brought together students who had prepared in their home communities to build, program and compete alongside international partners.
Support from home
Habele designed and donated Team FSM’s shirts, including additional shirts the team could sell to friends, family and community members to raise funds. The students and their local educators did the work of preparing the team and competing in Korea.
We’ve also been helping families and friends follow their progress. Our first-day report and second-day report include earlier highlights and photographs. This final video completes our three-part account of Team FSM’s 2026 competition.