Behind the glamour of FIFA World Cup 2026™ in Dallas, one volunteer story stands apart — that of Joe Flores and his service dog, Kiki, a partnership built on trust, survival, and a shared commitment to the beautiful game.

Flores, 49, serves as a Competition Management volunteer at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, helping prepare competition kits and inspecting operational areas to ensure the smooth delivery of match-day operations. He does not do this alone. At his side on every match day — wearing her own volunteer T-shirt — is Kiki, an eight-year-old service dog whose medical training makes Joe's participation possible.

A life-saving partner

Kiki was rescued from the Prairie Paws Adoption Shelter in Grand Prairie, Texas, before completing a specialist training programme and becoming Joe's full-time service animal. She was first trained to respond to Joe's severe obstructive sleep apnoea, waking him whenever his breathing equipment fails during the night. When Joe later developed heart failure, her training was extended: she can now detect dangerous spikes in his blood pressure or heart rate and alert him in time.

Joe does not understate her importance.