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MEXICO CITY (AP) \u2014 As World Cup fever sweeps through Mexico City, one of the tournament’s biggest fan favorites isn’t the players, coaches or official mascots. joining duck merlin<\/span> In the hall of heart-stealers is Osito, an 8-year-old rescue poodle mix who became an unexpected sensation after arriving at Mexico’s opening game. mexican jersey,<\/span> sunglasses and cap.<\/p>\nLast week, thousands of fans poured into the stadium. For the opening game of the tournament,<\/span> Many people stopped to take photos, pet the dogs and posted videos online. Within hours, Osito was appearing on international broadcasts and spreading across social media, transforming the biking dog into one of the World Cup’s most glamorous viral stars.<\/p>\nFor owner Jorge Rangel, the focus is less on internet fame and more on the companionship of the dog that takes him everywhere. For the past two years, Osito and Rangel have been delivering household goods to various locations in Mexico City every day.<\/p>\n
“He’s more than a dog, he’s my daily companion,” said Rangel, 50. <\/p>\n
They travel together on a specially modified cargo bike, with Osito sitting quietly in the back compartment, greeting passersby and eliciting smiles from strangers.<\/p>\n
This arrangement started by chance. One day, Rangel put the dog in a delivery box attached to his bike and took him for a short ride. Osito-san also seemed to have fun. Over time, Rangel added cushioning, tweaked the setup, and gradually took it on long trips around the city. Eventually, the two became a familiar sight.<\/p>\n
Now, children run up to greet Osito, strangers stop to take pictures, and some initially mistake him for a stuffed animal as he sits motionless in his many costumes.<\/p>\n
“He has a very gentle disposition. Everybody wants to meet him,” Rangel said. <\/p>\n
time The World Cup is coming<\/span> Rangel saw an opportunity to introduce Osito (whose name means “little bear”) to an even wider audience.<\/p>\nAn avid soccer fan, he spent weeks preparing for the tournament, gathering accessories and adjusting sunglasses to fit his dog. he dressed Osito varsity jersey<\/span> I decorated my bike, hoping to stand out in the crowd heading to the stadium.<\/p>\n\n
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\u201cIt exceeded all my expectations,\u201d Rangel said of the response.<\/p>\n
What resonates most with fans seems to be the relationship between the man and his dog, rather than his costume or viral fame. Rangel adopted Osito many years ago during a difficult time in her life and said he was her emotional support.<\/p>\n
“I never knew what it meant to love animals until Osito came into my life,” Rangel said.<\/p>\n
Now, the two spend almost every day together. When Rangel leaves without him, Osito protests by doing something he rarely does: barking.<\/p>\n
Their bond is evident even to the strangers they meet on the street. Rangel recalls people coming up to him and saying that meeting Osito brightened their stressful days. Some people simply thanked the two for making them smile.<\/p>\n
Even now, as the World Cup celebrations continue, Osito’s videos continue to circulate, and requests for photos keep coming. Still, Rangel and Osito continue to work, riding their bikes back to the streets of Mexico City every morning to greet strangers and spread moments of joy.<\/p>\n
For Rangel, that remains the most meaningful part of the story.<\/p>\n
The TV appearances and word-of-mouth fame are satisfying, he said. But the most important thing is that people understand the love between a man and his dog. That bond unexpectedly became one of the most endearing images of the World Cup.<\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n
AP World Cup coverage: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/fifa-world-cup<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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