Seattle shelter dog’s nose knows: Junior picks USA over Australia in World Cup forecast

On June 18, a 3-year-old Mastiff mix named Junior from the Seattle Animal Shelter made headlines by predicting the United States would win against Australia in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match. The prediction event, themed 'Cool Under Pressure,' was hosted by comedian Drew Carey and Peter Tomozawa, CEO of the Seattle FIFA World Cup 2026 Local Organizing Committee. Junior chose the bowl of peanut butter nearest the American flag, delighting the media in attendance. The match between the U.S. Men’s National Team and Australia took place on June 19 at Seattle Stadium (Lumen Field). Drew Carey, a soccer enthusiast and co-owner of Seattle Sounders FC and Seattle Reign FC, used the event to advocate for pet adoption, echoing Bob Barker’s legacy of encouraging spaying and neutering. Junior remains available for adoption at the Seattle Animal Shelter, with adoption fees covering essential medical procedures. The shelter aims to find homes for over 90% of the animals it serves. For those interested in adopting Junior, more information is available on the Seattle Animal Shelter’s website.