STORY: Up to 400 homeless puppies could be adopted by new families during the World Cup thanks to an initiative by an animal charity at Kansas City's FIFA fan festival.

KC Pet Project, which cares for more than 16,000 pets every year, is hoping soccer fans will be just as interested in K9s as they are false nines.

On Friday (June 12), ahead of the United States' opening match of the tournament against Paraguay, four puppies were proving to be a paw-some hit with young soccer fans - and some older ones too.

The seven-and-a-half-week-old pooches, thought to be Labrador-German Shepherd crosses, were found abandoned at two-days old and were bottle-fed at the KC Pet Project.

Babycakes, Peanut, Misprint and Bugaboo were getting plenty of attention as they battled to stay awake in soaring afternoon temperatures.

Dozens of other puppies will also be showcased at the fan festival, with pet food giant Purina offering $50 toward adoption fees for every dog taken in by a new family.

The scheme is part of a drive to make Kansas City's fan fest the most pet friendly at the World Cup, with a number of days earmarked for dog owners to bring their four-legged friends to watch matches and soak up the atmosphere.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, UNITED STATES (JUNE 12, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. PUPPY BEING STROKED

2. WOMAN AND GIRL STROKING PUPPIES ASLEEP

3. VARIOUS OF PUPPIES BEING HELD (TWO SHOTS)

4. CHILDREN STROKING PUPPIES

5. CLOSE UP OF YOUNG GIRL PETTING PUPPY / PUPPY

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) GIRL REAGAN SAYING: "Sweetest things on earth, adorable, amazing."

REPORTER ASKING - Do you think your mum will let you adopt one?

(SOUNDBITE) (English) GIRL REAGAN SAYING: "Will you? May be."

7. VARIOUS OF KC PET PROJECT STAND AT FIFA FAN FEST

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PAYTON DOCHEFF, CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER AT KC PET PROJECT,

SAYING:

"It's been great. I don't want to feel overly confident, but I think we are at this point, maybe the fan favourite aspect of this festival. We love seeing it. You know, we've got puppies today, and hopefully we're going to bring some different shelter dogs throughout the course of the tournament. And so seeing community members come up and get their snuggles in as they go about and celebrate with the rest of the partners is just great."

9. VARIOUS OF PUPPIES ASLEEP

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CAITY LOTHAMER SENIOR MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR AT KC PET PROJECT SAYING:

"I know, I know. It is hard not to want to take them home, right? They are so cute."

11. DOG SNIFFING CAMERA / OWNER TELLING DOG TO SPEAK / DOG BARKS / WOMAN SAYS 'Go USA'