Nearly 50 rescue puppies will compete in the LG Channels World Pup, which kicks off on June 10, 2026.Courtesy of LG Channels World PupCute canine competitors will delight dog lovers and soccer fans alike in the first ever “World Pup” competition, which kicks off tonight. The LG Channels World Pup — from the producers of Puppy Bowl — features 48 rescue puppies hitting the field for eight national teams to celebrate the World Cup and animal rescue.U.S. World Cup veteran and CBS Sports host Jimmy Conrad will officiate each match as the official “Rufferee,” and loved seeing the boundless energy and enthusiasm from all the puppy players during filming.“They embody this spirit of ‘Isn’t life awesome?’ as they run around and it’s inspiring,” he said. “I couldn’t stop smiling the whole time.”U.S. World Cup veteran Jimmy Conrad is excited to be the “Rufferee” for the World Pup. “I get to be around 50 puppies who are giving me endless kisses in between — and sometimes during — the action on the field,” he said. “It’s heaven on earth.”Courtesy of LG Channels World PupConrad said he knows dog lovers will tune in and hopes they’ll consider adopting a World Pup player. “They’ll get to watch the cutest puppies playing in the world’s biggest sporting event with the ability to adopt their favorite personalities,” he said. “Imagine if we could do that for this World Cup. ‘That Tyler Adams looks adorable, let’s bring him home!’”What To Expect From The 2026 World PupPuppies from 12 rescue organizations and animal shelters will face off in a four-part event to try to bring home the World Pup trophy for their team, including the United States, England, Germany, Australia, France, Mexico, Brazil and South Korea. (The U.S. team captain is a bull terrier, while an Aussie shepherd captains Australia and a Chihuahua leads Team Mexico.)MORE FOR YOUViewers can enjoy commentary from dog influencers Chili, a golden retriever, and Lumi, a Samoyed, plus a final tournament prediction from corgi Steph Furry of AirCorg fame.Puppies play in the World Pup match between Team USA and Team England. Courtesy of LG Channels World PupSome World Pup soccer stars will lean on similar tactics to those Conrad and his teammates relied on in the 2006 World Cup, he quipped.“For example, some of us were running around 100 mph at all times, others leaned into the physicality of the game and others stayed on the fringes waiting for the right moment,” he said. “The differences? I got three for you: the freedom to urinate whenever and wherever, utilizing your nose to get to know your opponent better and laying down on the field if you were tired. Could you imagine players doing any of these three in the 2026 World Cup?”Most importantly, the World Pup players will highlight the joy of dog adoption. Conrad, who adored his late Dalmatian, Patches, said adopting a dog is a win-win.“You don’t have to pretend to be anyone else but yourself. They love you for you, which is what I think we’re all searching for in some capacity: that we can be enough for somebody,” he said. “In return, you get to love someone the same exact way.”A Rescue Enters Nine Puppies In The World PupA corgi named Clover from Florida Little Dog Rescue will compete in the World Pup for Team England. Courtesy of Florida Little Dog RescueThe World Pup has the potential to be as cute and impactful as the Puppy Bowl is each year, according to Laurie Johnson, founder and director of the nonprofit Florida Little Dog Rescue in St. Cloud, Florida. Puppies from her rescue organization have competed in the Puppy Bowl for the past 13 years.She was thrilled to have nine puppies from Florida Little Dog Rescue chosen to compete in the first World Pup — and a bit surprised. She and her husband drove the nine pups from Florida to New York to participate. (Fortunately, friends were fine with the couple and nine dogs sleeping in their guest room.)“Everybody asks why we do this and it’s to raise awareness about rescue and have people find that you can get any type of dog you are looking for in rescue,” she said. “You might not find them on Monday morning when you wake up or on Tuesday when you go into your local shelter and it might not even be that week, but you can reach out and make contacts with rescues in your area, make contacts with breed specific rescues and they will reach out and help you find the right pet for your home. And then you have a lifetime best friend for you and your family.”For instance, a purebred corgi named Clover rescued by her nonprofit will compete for Team England in the World Pup. A pug named Onyx — with the stage name Son Chew-Min as a nod to footballer Son Heung-min — captains Team South Korea with support from shih tzu mixes Rumi and Ara. Son Chew-Min is available for adoption from Florida Little Dog Rescue. “I think after people see how he does on the field, I’m sure that his forever family will see him and reach out,” Laurie Johnson said.Courtesy of Florida Little Dog RescueOnyx came to Florida Little Dog Rescue with Fritz, a Pomeranian mix. The dogs were found abandoned on Christmas Eve with serious upper respiratory infections that were starting to develop into pneumonia.So Johnson quarantined them from her pet dogs and other fosters in her laundry room, where she cared for them for several weeks.“We didn’t know at first if they were even going to make it through the night,” she said. “They were so sick and couldn’t breathe.”To Johnson’s immense relief, both pups pulled through, making it particularly poignant when they were selected to compete in the World Pup. Onyx (left) and Fritz survived severe upper respiratory infections and will compete in the World Pup.Courtesy of Florida Little Dog RescueA Special World Pup ConnectionWhile Onyx is still available for adoption, Fritz found a home during the taping of the World Pup with a very special fan: Heidi Klum. The supermodel was filming an episode of Project Runway in the same building as the World Pup and after asking many questions about Fritz and consulting with her husband, she decided to adopt the little cutie who captains Team Germany.“Fritz is now Heidi’s constant companion and goes everywhere with her,” Johnson said. “This little pup that almost died on us several times that we were like, ‘Can you please just survive?’ — and he did — now has an amazing life.”Just as 100% of the puppies who compete in the Puppy Bowl (which airs before the Super Bowl) get adopted, Johnson hopes the same proves true for competitors in the World Pup. She also hopes people will consider adopting their next pet from a shelter or rescue since with inflation and affordability concerns, right now there are many animals in need of loving homes.“So many pups are just flooding into rescue right now everywhere all over the country,” she said. “I’m really hopeful that a show like World Pup will boost awareness and encourage people to start going to rescues and their county shelters and adopting so that we can start to get these pups in homes.” Puppies on Team France work together in the 2026 World Pup.Courtesy of LG Channels World PupHow To Watch The 2026 World PupFans can watch the 2026 LG Channels World Pup on LG Channels 100 (if you have an LG SmartTV) or on LGChannels.com.Episodes air on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern/Pacific (with multiple repeats):World Pup episode 101 premieres June 10.World Pup episode 102 premieres June 17.World Pup episode 103 premieres June 24.There’s a bye week the week of the Fourth of July, but a World Pup marathon runs July 1 and July 4.World Pup episode 104 — the final match — premieres July 8.May the best team win — and may all the puppies get adopted!