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Empowering teams to build a better future through STEM discovery
Empowering teams to build a better future through STEM discovery
Empowering teams to build a better future through STEM discovery
Empowering teams to build a better future through STEM discovery
Empowering teams to build a better future through STEM discovery

Game & Season

Uncover the Future: Unleash innovation and collaboration in the 2025-2026 challenge

In the 2025-2026 DECODETM season presented by RTX, FIRST Tech Challenge teams will investigate the power of the world’s artifacts and unlock mysteries.

Every artifact we uncover holds a story. Each tool, each innovation, each work of art connects us to the people and ideas that came before us. Using STEM skills and teamwork, today we can dig deeper into discoveries than ever before.

Join our archaeology-inspired robotics season

Game Animation

Watch the 2025-2026 game animation to see how your team will unlock mysteries and uncover the future in DECODETM presented by RTX.

Uncover the Field

Get an inside look at DECODE’s game elements, field specifications, and scoring options in a detailed field walkthrough

Competition 2025-2026

Explore how this season’s competition is organized in the Benelux and in which events you can participate.

Competition structure

Each registered team may compete in one Qualifying Tournament to qualify for the Benelux Championship. To adequately prepare for a Qualifying Tournament, scrimmages will be organized on various dates and locations. A team can participate in multiple scrimmages.

A scrimmage is an unofficial FIRST Tech Challenge event where teams assist each other in improving their robots, engage in robot matches, and socialize.

Qualifying Tournaments include qualification matches, alliance selection, elimination matches, judging sessions, pit visits and awards. The structure of a Qualifying Tournament can be compared to a Championship, but with a different vibe and ambiance.

Which teams will advance to the Benelux Championship?

The total number of teams that can qualify for the Benelux Championship is 48. The number of teams advancing from each Qualifying Tournament will depend on the number of participating teams with home region Benelux (Netherlands).

When assigning teams to the Qualifying Tournaments, we try to assign all teams as evenly as possible across the five tournaments, aiming for a balanced number of teams at each event.

Events

Hard work pays off! During each FIRST Tech Challenge season, teams can participate in regional events to compete for awards and qualify for the FTC Benelux Championship.

FIRST Tech Challenge events help students gain sense of accomplishment and confidence while they:  

    • collaborate and share ideas,
    • compete with their robots,
    • engage with cutting edge technology,
    • creatively solve problems,
    • and have fun.

See all events

Resources

Do you need information about building a robot, managing a team, preparing for competition or educational resources to implement the program in the curriculum? Find everything you might need to participate in the FIRST Tech Challenge.