Two border collies, Ben and Sally, are patrolling a FIFA World Cup training pitch in Toronto to remove Canada geese [1].
This effort ensures that visiting teams have access to clean and safe fields. Canada geese droppings can carry diseases and cause significant damage to the professional turf, potentially compromising the quality of the playing surface for the 2026 event [2], [4].
The dogs are stationed at the Centennial Park training pitch in Etobicoke [3]. Ben and Sally patrol the grounds twice daily [1] to deter the birds from landing and nesting on the grass. This specialized approach uses the natural herding instincts of the border collie breed to clear the area without causing permanent harm to the wildlife [4].
Organizers have integrated these canine champions into the broader preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup [1]. The presence of the dogs helps maintain the strict standards required for international soccer pitches—where every blade of grass must be meticulously managed—while addressing the local challenge of urban wildlife management [2].
Reports on the dogs' activities began appearing in local media on June 19 [3] and were highlighted in further reports on June 25 [1]. The strategy focuses on prevention by keeping the geese away from the pitch entirely rather than relying solely on manual cleaning after the birds have departed [5].
By employing two dogs [1] to maintain the perimeter, the facility can reduce the risk of biological contaminants on the field. This proactive measure protects the health of the athletes who will use the Centennial Park facility for high-intensity training sessions during the tournament [2], [4].
“Two border collies, Ben and Sally, are patrolling a FIFA World Cup training pitch in Toronto to remove Canada geese.”
The use of trained herding dogs represents a biological control method to maintain high-performance sports infrastructure. By prioritizing the removal of geese, organizers are mitigating both sanitation risks and physical turf degradation, ensuring the venue meets FIFA's stringent international standards for player safety and field consistency.
