Miami-Dade County & Debris Free Oceans host World Pup for Miami’s dogs and soccer fans

Colombia, Argentina, Spain, Haiti, Mexico, France, Brazil, and the rest of the world’s greatest national teams are all descending on South Florida this summer. However, Miami’s biggest, furriest, and yappiest sports event isn’t taking place at Miami Stadium, it’s the World Pup at Haulover Park! Debris Free Oceans (DFO), a local non-profit organization empowering Miami-Dade communities to go zero waste, in collaboration with Miami-Dade County’s Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM) and Miami-Dade Animal Services Department (MDASD), welcomes all of South Florida’s pups and their parents to attend the World Pup.  

The eco-friendly event begins on Saturday, May 30 at 9:00 a.m. and runs until 12:00 p.m. at Haulover Park. Attendants are encouraged to park in Lot 1 Bayside. 

“The World Pup is all about having fun with our fur babies while learning about the importance of pet adoption and picking up pet waste,” said Caiti Waks, DFO’s Co-Founder and President. “That’s why we’re kicking off with a walk-in of adoptable pets sporting World Cup qualifying countries’ flags before the big event. We’re also excited to teach participants about how and why they should responsibly dispose of dog poop.” 

Inspired by the Super Bowl’s Puppy Bowl and just in time for Miami’s 2026 Soccer World Cup matches, teams of pooches will romp around a miniature stadium while representing some of Miami’s favorite national teams. Whichever team scores the most by bumping dozens of soccer balls into the goals wins.  

Food trucks and vendors selling dog treats, toys, and other pet gear will be on hand, as well as an MDASD mobile van with shelter dogs that owners can adopt the same day.  

“Biscayne Bay and Miami-Dade’s natural beauty will serve as the backdrop of this year’s World Cup, making its protection more important than ever. Tourists, residents, and dog owners can help do their part!” said Loren Parra, DERM Director and Chief Resilience Officer. “Picking up after your pet is one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent harmful bacteria from entering storm drains and ultimately reaching the Bay. Even miles inland, uncollected pet waste can wash into waterways after rainfall, harming water quality, local wildlife, and public health.” 

Owners and dogs of all breeds and ages are welcome at the World Pup so long as they are well behaved and accustomed to interacting with other pets.  

DFO also helps lead the Zero Waste Miami coalition, which advocates for reuse at World Cup events through the #KickTheCup campaign, including a sign-on letter submitted to the Miami Host Committee and a social media toolkit encouraging venues, bars, and event producers to swap disposable cups for reusables. 

RSVP 
Individuals can secure their spots at the World Pup by RSVPing on Debris Free Oceans’ event page.  

 
Any questions or requests for more information may be directed to the Debris Free Oceans by emailing [email protected].  

ABOUT DEBRIS FREE OCEANS 

Debris Free Oceans is a Miami-based 501(c)3 nonprofit with the mission of empowering local communities to go zero-waste so all can have access to clean oceans and a healthy environment. Since its inception in 2014, DFO has engaged more than 14,500 volunteers in picking up over 75,000 pounds of debris, educated more than 14,700 students about plastic pollution and waste, hosted more than 500 zero waste events, and prevented the use of more than 2 million single-use plastic items through sustainability consulting.