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Distinguished sports broadcaster will make his debut as show announcer at the 151st Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show held on February 1-2, 2027 at Madison Square Garden, streamed live on Netflix
New York, NY (October 19, 2026) – The Westminster Kennel Club announced today that distinguished sports broadcaster, host, and play-by-play announcer John Strong will serve as the in-venue show announcer for the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show when the iconic event returns to New York City in early 2027 for its 151st installment, presented by Pro Plan. For the first time ever, Netflix will stream the legendary canine competition, which serves as America's second-longest continuously held sporting event.
Strong is the lead FOX Sports soccer play-by-play announcer and the voice of the biggest matches across various premier soccer properties, including FIFA World Cup™ and Major League Soccer (MLS). No stranger to the Westminster Dog Show, Strong has served as the play-by-play announcer of the Masters Agility Championship and host of the Best of Breed competition for seven years from 2020-2026 for FOX. He follows the historic tenure of show announcer Michael J. LaFave, who famously served as the “Voice of Westminster” since 2001 and retired after the milestone 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show earlier this year.
“As the legacy of Westminster continues, we are overjoyed to welcome John back to the show in this exciting new role,” said Dr. Donald Sturz, President of The Westminster Kennel Club. “John has called some of the world’s most historic sporting moments, including some of Westminster’s very own. We know he will bring his signature flair, expert commentary, and genuine love of dogs to every moment leading up to Best in Show.”
“I am humbled and honored to step into this prestigious role for The Westminster Kennel Club,” added Strong. “I look forward to honoring the legacy of Westminster and celebrating the future of this beloved sporting event while lending my passion for dogs and live sports experience to the world’s top canine competitors.”
For the first time, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show’s evening group judging and Best in Show competition will stream live on Netflix from Madison Square Garden on February 1-2. The daytime breed competitions at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center will stream live on westminsterkennelclub.org/watch-live and on the official YouTube channel of The Westminster Kennel Club. Westminster’s Canine Celebration will return for its fifth consecutive year on January 30 with thrilling canine competitions at the Javits Center, including the 14th Annual Masters Agility Championship, which will be taped and streamed on Netflix at a later date.
The epic three-day, three-night competitive event will feature over 3,000 champion dogs, representing over 200 breeds from around the world, and culminating in the coveted Best in Show award on February 2, 2027, named by judge Espen Engh at The World’s Most Famous Arena, Madison Square Garden. For the complete schedule of Westminster Week events and to purchase tickets, please visit westminsterkennelclub.org.
Be sure to follow The Westminster Kennel Club on social media to keep up on event news and special announcements. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
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Established in 1877, The Westminster Kennel Club is America's oldest organization dedicated to the sport of dogs. It hosts the iconic, all-breed Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show — the second-longest continuously held sporting event in the United States, following the Kentucky Derby, and the longest nationally televised live dog show since 1948.
The Club’s mission is to enhance the lives of all dogs by celebrating the human-canine bond and promoting responsible dog ownership and breed preservation. Westminster advocates for purpose-bred dogs, recognizing that each breed carries a unique legacy that deserves to be taught, honored, and preserved.
Westminster Week centers around the prestigious conformation competition, open exclusively to elite dogs with Champion status, competing for the coveted Best in Show title. Westminster’s Masters Agility Championship, alongside other canine skills competitions, welcomes dogs of all backgrounds — including mixed breeds — to showcase their speed, precision, and teamwork. Drawing top dogs, handlers, and judges from across the globe, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is an international celebration of canine excellence.
Learn more at westminsterkennelclub.org. WESTMINSTER. There's only one.®
Strong most recently served as lead play-by-play announcer for FOX Sports’ acclaimed coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ and has called all men’s and women’s FIFA World Cup™ tournaments since 2015 when he joined the network full time. He is also featured across several premier soccer properties, including Major League Soccer (MLS), Concacaf Gold Cup, Concacaf Champions Cup, CONMEBOL Copa America™, UEFA EURO™, UEFA Women’s EURO™ and more.
Strong joined the FOX Soccer Channel in August 2012, while still calling the Portland Timbers and working soccer broadcasts at NBC. He has regularly contributed to FOX’s coverage of the Concacaf Champions League and Concacaf Women’s World Cup Qualifying. He has called various U.S. soccer friendlies, including the USMNT’s "Dos A Cero" victory against Mexico in April 2015 and was the lead play-by-play voice for four seasons of the UEFA Europa League (2013-2016) and called two UEFA Champions League finals in 2017 and 2018.
Before joining FOX Sports, Strong served as lead play-by-play announcer for MLS on NBC Sports and as a fill-in host for the network’s studio coverage of the Barclays Premier League.
Strong was previously the radio and television voice of the MLS’ Portland Timbers. During the 2011 season, his call of a goal by the Timbers’ Darlington Nagbe was named MLS "Broadcast Call of the Year" and had nearly two million YouTube views. In 2012, Strong was honored as the Oregon Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sports Writers Association.
A graduate of the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication, Strong recently received the Eric Allen Award as Outstanding Young Alumni. He was active at Oregon’s campus station KWVA, where he called University of Oregon women’s soccer, softball and lacrosse. Strong began his broadcast career in high school where he founded Laker Broadcasting for Lake Oswego High School and called football and basketball games. Last spring he was inducted into the school’s Athletics Hall of Honor.
Strong was born and raised in Portland, where he still lives with his wife, Nicole, two kids, and several pets. His wife played soccer at Washington State, competed at the 2009 Women’s Copa Libertadores, and was the 2011 WPSL Golden Boot winner with the Portland Rain.
Images:
Courtesy FOX Sports / Courtesy John Strong
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