Socceroos great Tim Cahill has taken a brief reprieve from Matildas World Cup fever for something equally as heartwarming: hosting the nation's biggest-ever greyhound adoption drive.

During his 21-year professional career, Cahill scored a record 50 goals in 108 appearances for Australia, played in four World Cups and appeared in 600 professional matches at eight clubs all over the globe.

But it's greyhounds who have now captured his heart.

Surrounded by 60 of the retired racing dogs at a Sydney park on Sunday, the Greyhounds as Pets NSW ambassador was even seen sharing a kiss with his favourite breed.

Cahill's own adopted greyhound, Luna Moana or Lumo as she is known, remained at home on a farm in northern NSW.

And while Cahill noted the shared national euphoria around the Matildas' nail-biting win against France on Saturday, he also spoke of his role helping rehome the family-friendly dogs.

"To see that we have gone from just over 700 dogs rehomed in 2018-19 to this past year finding homes for 2202 dogs ... that is remarkable," he told a crowd at Gough Whitlam Park.

"You never know, like I did, you could fall in love and find yourself adding another member to your family."