By James Tabafunda
NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
When a pet “chooses” between two teams to predict the outcome of a major sporting event, the spectacle can draw public attention while supporting a meaningful cause.
A 3-year-old Mastiff mix settled an international soccer face-off on June 18 with a lick of peanut butter, choosing the United States over Australia in a World Cup prediction ceremony hosted at the Seattle International Media Center.
Junior, an adoptable dog from the Seattle Animal Shelter, selected the bowl of peanut butter treat positioned nearest the American flag, delivering his verdict to a room of media representatives. The pick arrives one day before the U.S. Men’s National Team faces Australia in a FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match at Seattle Stadium (Lumen Field) with kickoff set for noon Pacific time on Juneteenth, June 19.
Junior, a 3-year-old Mastiff mix deciding United States of America or Australia (Photo by James Tabafunda)
The media conference was hosted by comedian, game show host, and Seattle Sounders FC and Seattle Reign FC co-owner Drew Carey, alongside Peter Tomozawa, chief executive officer of the Seattle FIFA World Cup 2026™ Local Organizing Committee (SeattleFWC26). Its theme is “Cool Under Pressure.”
The selection
Junior made his prediction under conditions that organizers described as a test of composure.
Two bowls were placed before Junior: one near the Australian flag, one near the American flag. Both contained peanut butter treats. After a few seconds of deliberation, Junior committed to the bowl nearest the U.S. flag.
“Junior picks USA,” Tomozawa said. “Junior has made it clear who he is picking for tomorrow’s match. It’s Team USA. Good job, Junior. You did a lot of licks though. USA in the over.”
After the selection, Junior received additional praise and what Tomozawa described as a reward for his decisiveness.
The choice is clear! Junior predicts as USA victory over Australia (Photo by James Tabafunda)
“That’s a lucky dog. Gets petted and he gets the ice cream. He really likes that flavor.”
Tomozawa issued a final declaration: “Junior has decided.”
Tomozawa: ‘Very special day for us all”
Tomozawa opened the event by acknowledging the layered significance of staging a U.S. national team match on Juneteenth, the federal holiday that commemorates June 19, 1865—the day enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, first learned of their emancipation, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
“We have the big match—Australia, United States—tomorrow,” he said. “And we couldn’t be more thrilled to be hosting this match here on Juneteenth. A very special day for us all.”
Tomozawa praised Carey’s participation as civic generosity and said Carey had agreed to appear without hesitation when invited.
“He’s the host of ‘The Price is Right.’ He’s one of the owners of the Seattle Sounders FC and Seattle Reign FC. He’s generally made a major icon in our city for what he’s done for the soccer community here,” Tomozawa said. “And when he heard about us trying to promote and lift up our community in many ways, he didn’t even hesitate. And today he’s here. We’re here to lift up the Seattle Animal Shelter.”
SeattleFWC26, a not-for-profit organization, serves as Seattle’s local organizing committee for its role as one of 16 host cities selected for FIFA World Cup 2026, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Carey: World Cup is bigger than the Super Bowl
Carey, who became a minority co-owner of Seattle Sounders FC at the club’s launch as a Major League Soccer expansion team in 2009, used his time at the podium to address the significance of hosting the World Cup in Seattle—and to promote the cause of animal adoption.
Drew Carey, co-owner of the Seattle Sounders FC, the Seattle Reign FC, and the host of “The Price is Right” with Junior, a 3-year-old Mastiff mix (Photo by James Tabafunda)
“I’m very excited about the World Cup,” Carey said. “It’s my favorite sporting event of any sporting event. To me, it’s bigger than the Super Bowl, bigger than the NCAA finals or March Madness, bigger than all that stuff. But the World Cup is the best.”
He has attended prior World Cups in person, including months-long stays in Germany and South Africa, and had long advocated for the tournament’s return to American soil.
“I was on the committee to try to get the World Cup to the United States when they awarded it to Russia and Qatar through bribery,” Carey said. “That was the old FIFA management. They have new people in charge now. It was a big scandal. And I think it’s just right that the United States and Canada and Mexico have it. We have the best infrastructure, the best stadiums.”
Carey expressed confidence that the 2026 tournament would serve as a cultural turning point for soccer in the United States.
“Soccer in America grows every single year,” he said. “It’s a really great sport. It’s getting more popular, especially with younger people. And the World Cup just gives it an extra kick. You’re getting to see the elite players in all of the world. There’s no league in the world as good as the World Cup teams.”
On the question of which teams beyond the U.S. he has been tracking, Carey cited South Korea and acknowledged Mexico.
“As a U.S. soccer fan, I’m always following the Mexican team because those are our biggest rivals in the world,” Carey said. “And Messi, of course—he plays in MLS, so you have to pay attention to him. I can’t believe how good that guy is.”
He also addressed the broader human dimension of the tournament, describing the unifying power of international soccer.
“Once you eliminate the governments and the politics, everybody just wants the same thing,” Carey said. “We all want to get along, have fun. This tournament is bringing such hope to everybody. There’s a lot of heated rivalry and high competition, but there’s no hate, which is a great thing. This is bringing so many cultures together and showing that we have this commonality.”
Carey promotes adoption, echoes Bob Barker legacy
Carey used the media conference to make an appeal for pet adoption, invoking his predecessor on “The Price is Right,” the late Bob Barker, who hosted the show for 35 years and made the sign-off plea—“Help control the pet population. Have your pets spayed or neutered”—a nationally recognized call-to-action.
“At the end of every show, we remind everybody to spay and neuter their pets,” he said. “Bob Barker started it. He was the host before me. And the whole show is all about adopting animals and taking care of animals. I wish more people would adopt. Don’t go to a puppy mill. If you need a dog, go to a shelter. Adopt one, foster one.”
Carey said he personally owns two shelter dogs and pointed to Junior’s situation as representative of a crisis that plays out daily in animal shelters across the country.
“There’s plenty of dogs and we don’t want any dogs euthanized unnecessarily, which is what happens to them,” Carey said. “If you don’t adopt, after a while they get put down. We want to avoid that as much as we can and find a home for these loving creatures that really add a lot to your life.”
He made a unique pitch to sports bettors in attendance: “If you’re a gambler or if you have a sports betting app on your phone, I would consider adopting Junior and making millions of dollars by having Junior pick your teams for you.”
Junior can be your new pet
Junior remains available for adoption through the Seattle Animal Shelter, a city-operated facility located at 2061 15th Avenue West. The shelter accepts all pets regardless of circumstance, conducts animal welfare assessments, and finds forever homes for more than 90% of animals that come through its doors.
Adoption fees for adult dogs are $100 and include spay or neuter surgery, recommended vaccinations, microchip, registration, and initial worming. Junior’s adoption listing is available through the Seattle Animal Shelter’s website.
The USA versus Australia Group D match is scheduled for noon Pacific time June 19 at Seattle Stadium (Lumen Field). The match will air on FOX in the United States.
For more information on Junior’s adoption listing, go to www.seattle.gov/animal-shelter/find-an-animal/adopt#dogs.
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