World Cup-Inspired Dog Names | Popular Male and Female Dog Names

The FIFA world cup is something soccer fans look forward to for years. This mega soccer championship is held every four years and boasts teams from dozens of different countries who compete for the prestigious title. Teams compete for three years just to qualify for the month-long tournament. 

The first-ever World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930 and was the brainchild of Jules Rimet. Originally, the World Cup trophy was named the Jules Rimmet trophy and renamed in 1946. Initially, only 15 countries participated in the tournament but over the years, more countries joined. An estimated 48 countries will be in the 2022 World Cup. 

A whopping 26.29 billion sports fans tuned in to watch the 2006 World Cup, viewership topping even the Rio Olympics. To put that number in perspective, one-ninth of all the people on earth watched this tournament. 

With a fanbase of this size, it's no wonder you've found yourself scouring the internet for World-Cup inspired dog names. We've compiled a list of some award-winning athlete names that we think would be a score for any pup! Grab a pen and paper. You're gonna want to jot these down. 

Your furry ball-player needs a champion name—that's why we've listed some of the top players in the World Cup history. There are many considerations you need to take when picking a World-Cup inspired name for your pooch. Surely you'll want to pick a player's name from your favorite team, but deciding which player is the challenging part.

Consider a name that is fitting for the breed's origins. For instance, if you have a Chihuahua, you may want to choose a player name from team Mexico, like Rafael Márquez. Both the first and last name would make a fitting name for a tiny but mighty Chi. 

Enrique might be the right name for your fluffy Bichon Frise. The Bichon Frise—which contrary to paw-pular belief—originates from Spain, as does Luis Enrique, head coach of the team Spain. 

You may also want to think about the nicknames for teams when deciding a title for your pooch. "Los Toros" or "Toro" for short, is a suitable name for a block-headed pit bull or bull mastiff since it means "bull" in Spanish. 

Trainers suggest a one or two-syllable name since longer names can be confusing for dogs. If you like a longer name, consider shortening it to a nickname like "Mo" for Mohamed. 

Take your time picking a moniker. The truth is, you'll probably go through several before you decide on one that sticks.