Squirrel Halts Match, Joins Dogs, Babies in Growing List of MLS’s Wild Pitch Invaders

Most MLS games feature just two teams and a referee inside the lines each week; however, a few funny characters have joined the action in recent years, and especially this season.

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On Saturday night, a squirrel darted onto the pitch in FC Cincinnati’s 3–3 draw with Charlotte FC, briefly stopping play and attracting cheers from the crowd as it trotted across the field and eventually down the players’ tunnel.

The oddity commanded a bewildered head shake from Charlotte manager Dean Smith, who hails from West Bromich, England and was perhaps questioning the bizarre nature of American wildlife and its starring role in MLS.

We’ve got a pitch invader pic.twitter.com/GK21rQdmwF

– FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) September 13, 2026

Dubbed “Squirrelinho” online, the rodent is just latest in a long string of odd, non-soccer-related moments that have commanded the attentions of MLS and its fans during games lately.

Here, Sports Illustrated takes you down memory lane.

Remembering “Raquinho”

RACCOON ON THE FIELD!!!

MIDWEEK @MLS AT ITS FINEST pic.twitter.com/tO8AJUrkJw

– Andrew Wiebe (@andrew_wiebe) May 16, 2024

The most famous wildlife sighting on an MLS pitch is often the raccoon. One of the most common urban animals in the United States and Canada, the rodent has made its way into several MLS games.

Two years ago, one took center stage and earned the nickname “Raquinho” after a high-stakes chase around the Philadelphia Union’s pitch, eventually leading to Mark Mello and Ryan Haines, the Union’s groundskeepers, sprinting with a garbage can to trap the animal for removal.

“We promise you that you are not watching the nature channel right now,” play-by-play Calum Williams said on the Apple TV match broadcast, while laughing through the commentary: “We’re told that pest control is on the way to remove a rather adventurous raccoon from the field.”

The Union also enjoyed another animal adventure in 2023 when Concacaf Champions Cup play had to be halted in the 68th minute on account of a dog chasing down the ball and taking a bite out of it.

Was this on your bingo card?

Yeah the @PhilaUnion is a good team and all, but this doggo is even better pic.twitter.com/cK882huibw

– FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 8, 2023

D.C. United’s Raccoon, Real Salt Lake’s Cat, Vancouver’s Mouse

Other MLS teams have had run-ins with animals too. D.C. United’s former home, RFK Stadium, was known for having frequent wildlife interactions. Raccoons actually established a more permanent home in the ceiling, only discovered after a dark-colored liquid began dripping from the roof, according to a report by TheAthletic.

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DC. United eventually embraced the furry friends, naming the collective “Ronnie Raccoon,” and even released plush toys, which they gave to players at the 2017 MLS SuperDraft. To date, Ronnie Raccoon is the club’s secondary mascot.

Real Salt Lake’s America First Park also housed a raccoon above the press box roof, which made its way out mid-game to the scare of journalists in 2022. Three years prior, a cat had made a darting run across the field before play was stopped in a Leagues Cup match against Tigres UANL.

Last season, Austin FC’s Brad Stuver removed a mouse from the pitch at BC Place in an away match against the Vancover Whitecaps, a stadium that often sees pigeons flying around inside.

Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver just CAUGHT A MOUSE ON THE FIELD in Vancouver

I love this league. pic.twitter.com/oh85oVvvmq

– Tom Bogert (@tombogert) April 12, 2025

What About the Babies?

A baby got on the field during Minnesota United’s win in San Jose pic.twitter.com/VRUXRO8SFs

– USMNT Only (@usmntonly) August 23, 2026

While the animals bring plenty of laughter, there have undoubtedly been some concerned parents across MLS in the last few years too.

Last season, a security guard ran onto the field after a child walked onto the pitch in D.C. United’s match against the Chicago Fire, and just a few weeks ago, a baby darted onto PayPal Park’s pitch as the SanJose Earthquakes battled Minnesota United.

Baby on the field! pic.twitter.com/68tDmyt0Jo

– Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 8, 2025

With 30 teams across the league as the world’s largest top division, there’s always excitement in MLS-sometimes not even from the players themselves.

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This story was originally published September 13, 2026 at 12:17 PM.