Two border collies named Ben and Sally have landed one of the most unusual gigs at the 2026 World Cup in Toronto: keeping notoriously aggressive Canada geese off the training pitch where visiting teams prepare for their matches.
The birds might seem like a minor inconvenience, but they’re actually a serious problem for World Cup organizers at Centennial Park in northwest Toronto. According to Gareth Williams, owner of Border Control Bird Dogs, the agency contracted for the job, goose feces carry disease and damage the playing surface. “It’s very important to keep the soccer fields clear, because goose feces actually carry disease, which would obviously be bad for everybody. It also actually burns the turf, so it would cause the playing surface not to be as good,” Williams explained. The stakes are high when teams need pristine conditions to prepare for global competition.
Eight-year-old Ben is a seasoned veteran at this work—easygoing and always on the lookout for a goose. His younger partner, Sally, who is 2-1/2 years old, shifts into work mode the moment she dons her hi-vis vest. Handler Spencer Jones praised their growing bond: “It’s our first year working together, but the bond between her and (me)… it’s grown so rapidly, and we’ve become an awesome team working at FIFA (World) Cup.” The dogs are on duty twice a day, five days a week, with standby shifts whenever the birds decide to make an appearance.
What makes this story particularly charming is how the World Cup spotlight has shined light on work Border Control Bird Dogs has quietly done for years across Ontario—managing geese at cemeteries, hospitals, and golf courses. Williams sees the visibility as a win. “It’s actually been a breath of fresh air to have the chance to make people aware of what we do,” he said. In an event obsessed with elite athletic performance, it’s worth remembering that the smallest team members—two hardworking dogs—are just as essential to making it all come together.
