Why the USA team looked to puppies Bud, Dew Drop & Bloom to relieve stress during home WC
3 min readJun 26, 2026 04:40 PM IST The US men’s national team has a unique way to relieve stress during the 2026 World Cup. The team that lost 3-2 to Turkey, but still topped their group had special visitors waiting for them upon returning to their training base in California. According to the Athletic, the USMNT has partnered with their first official pet care partner in Purina to introduce three terrier/mixed breed puppies to the squad. They are Bud, Dew Drop and Bloom. The Athletic reports that U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino approved the initiative, and both U.S. Soccer and Purina noted the session was so successful that they are already discussing a second visit for the knockout rounds. Future visits may feature different puppies. Bud, Dew Drop, and Bloom were introduced to the training center through Wags and Walks, a non-profit organization dedicated to minimizing euthanasia in local shelters and promoting the adoption of rescue dogs. //www.instagram.com/embed.js Social media was filled with charming clips of the U.S. squad relaxing with puppies at their Irvine …
