Zoo staffers say the effort is designed to celebrate biodiversity while drawing attention to conservation needs.
Communications Director Maria Bryant said staff coordinated across departments to identify animals connected to participating countries.
"When we found out who was playing at the World Cup in Philly, we worked with all of our teams to see which species are native to those countries, which includes Brazil, Ghana, Ivorie Coast and Ecuador," she said.
Bryant said the zoo has "more than 60 species that are associated with every country playing in Philadelphia." Among them are Cindy and Unna, two Nile hippopotamuses often seen in the African Plains exhibit.
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The reptile house is home to one of the zoo's rarest World Cup-themed ambassadors: the Rio Pescado stubfoot toad, a species native to Ecuador that was declared extinct in 2010.
"Since then, there have been 11 instances of seeing them or hearing them in the wild," Bryant said.
She added that the Philadelphia Zoo has a breeding pair and staff are "keeping our fingers crossed that we see these eggs and tadpoles of this critically endangered species."
The zoo is also spotlighting golden lion tamarins from Brazil. "These are super special to Brazil because on their $20 note, they have a golden lion," Bryant said.
Even the zoo's goats are joining the festivities. Animal care specialist Tara Brody said they have been practicing soccer skills for months.
"And I thought the goats would be a good animal to start kicking the ball," she said, adding that "each one it took about a week" to learn.
The zoo's gift shop has stocked new FIFA merchandise for visitors, but staffers say the larger goal is raising awareness about wildlife.
Bryant said guests can look for special markers throughout the zoo.
"When you come to the zoo, you can check each habitat and there will be a special sticker that says, 'Hey, I'm a World Cup animal, I'm from this country. And I'm native to this place," she said.