Buenos Aires, June 9, 2026 – Matera culture marked an unprecedented milestone this weekend. After three intense days (June 5, 6 and 7), the first edition of the Yerba Mate World Cup 2026an event that not only rewarded excellence in the industry, but also consolidated itself as a global movement with simultaneous celebrations on three continents.
A Fan Fest that met expectations
The heart of the event was in the Mate Museumlocated on the emblematic Avenida de Mayo in Buenos Aires. Over there, almost 4,000 people They enjoyed a cultural proposal that included stands from producers from Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, guided tastings, workshops with international sommeliers and blind tasting panels.
With the support of 235 volunteers and more than 170 hours of live content, the Fan Fest was positioned as the number one cultural activity on the Buenos Aires agenda during the weekend.
The largest yerba mate tasting in history
On a technical level, the contest broke records by evaluating more than 400 samples from multiple countries. The international jury worked under a rigorous blind protocol—similar to that used in major wine and spirits competitions—analyzing aroma, color, flavor, texture and balance.
«It is a unique record to be able to evaluate more than 400 samples. In fact, we started the evaluations with the jury one day earlier than planned,» explained Marcos Francisca, Judge Director of the contest.
In total they were delivered 313 distinctions: 59 Great Gold medals, 93 Gold, 85 Silver and 76 Bronze. The organization clarified that the system does not seek to make brands compete with each other, but rather to recognize and endorse all products that reach the highest quality standards.
A phenomenon without borders
The international character was demonstrated through the 13 Official Sub-offices in 6 countries that replicated the event simultaneously. The mater map extended from Lungro (Italy) and London (United Kingdom), passing through Auckland (New Zealand), Sydney (Australia), Valencia and Barcelona (Spain), Dolores (Uruguay), Guatemala, Punta Arenas (Chile), to various locations in Argentina such as Salta, Iguazú and Apóstoles.
«This network of sub-offices is proof that yerba mate is already a global drink with active communities in such diverse markets»highlighted Martín Gómez, General Director of the event.
Meeting of producers and institutional support
The World Cup functioned as a key showcase for the entire value chain. They ranged from large companies to cooperatives and ancestral social projects, such as Ilexaa venture of Guaraní producers from Paraguay.
The closing ceremony had strong political and institutional support, including the presence of National Senators and members of the Executive Branch of Corrientes and Misiones, key provinces in herbal production.
The movement has just begun
The balance of this first edition leaves a path drawn for the future and the enormous challenge of growing the international network.
«Everyday life deserves to be recognized, and yerba mate already had its first World Cup. The World Cup did not end on June 7: it started on the 5th. This is a global movement and we hope to be able to take the event to different countries,» concluded Nicolás Geiskko, Director of Communication and Commercial.
The organization is already looking to the future with a clear objective: The next appointment will be in 2027.
