Uruguay Took Center Stage in Miami During the FIFA World Cup 2026

Uruguay brought the spirit of the FIFA World Cup 2026 to Miami with Uruguay Day in Miami, an exclusive cocktail reception held on Wednesday, June 17, at the prestigious Piero Atchugarry Gallery, one of the most prominent cultural spaces representing Uruguay in the United States. Organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay and Uruguay XXI, the event was a resounding success and served as the highlight of a series of promotional activities positioning Uruguay as a leading destination for tourism, investment, innovation, culture and premium exports.

The reception brought together more than 130 guests, including authorities, business leaders, investors, members of the Uruguayan community living in the United States, press and influencers.

Among the distinguished guests were Uruguay's Minister of Tourism, Pablo Menoni; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mario Lubetkin; Uruguay's Ambassador to the United States, Daniel Castillos; Uruguay XXI Executive Director, Mariana Ferreira; Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries, Alfredo Fratti; and the National Secretary of Sport, Alejandro Pereda. The event was also honored by the special presence of the U.S. Ambassador to Uruguay, Lou Rinaldi, alongside other leading figures such as INAC Vice President Leonardo Bove and Banco República President Álvaro García. Directors of the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) also attended, as did the prominent Uruguayan sports figure Gastón “Tonga” Reyno.

Guests experienced an immersive celebration of Uruguayan identity. The gastronomy featured premium Uruguayan beef in a variety of cuts and preparations, grilled on-site by Uruguayan grill masters (parrilleros), paired with a sommelier-led wine bar serving Tannat — Uruguay's flagship grape — alongside Albariño, Sauvignon Blanc and sparkling wines from seven national wineries with distribution in the United States.

The cultural program was led by Mi Morena, a candombe drum group made up of Uruguayans living in Miami, complemented by contemporary art on display at the gallery — a reflection of the country's creativity, diversity and heritage. To close the evening, guests received Ricarditos Celestes, an iconic Uruguayan chocolate, courtesy of Chocolates Hass.

“This is the first time a Uruguay Day has been organized in Miami, which makes it a source of great satisfaction. Beef and wine are our flagship products in this market,” said Daniel Castillos, Uruguay's Ambassador to the United States.

“This is also a productive, exporting Uruguay, open to the world — a country that respects the rules, works as a team and is constantly striving for excellence. That is who we are: we may not be the largest, but we are excellence. Just as our footballers perform at the highest level, so do our producers, our entrepreneurs and our professionals,” said Mario Lubetkin, Uruguay's Minister of Foreign Affairs.
“Uruguay is a tourism destination that has welcomed as many visitors as there are Uruguayans: in 2025 we received more than 3.5 million visitors, in a country of around three million people. Direct tourism revenue grew by more than 8% from 2024 to 2025 in current terms, while GDP grew by around 2% — which means tourism has driven part of that growth, and it still has room to grow,” said Pablo Menoni, Uruguay's Minister of Tourism.

“This is a country-positioning event to showcase Uruguay's opportunities and the platform it offers as a gateway to the region. Miami is a strategic hub for Uruguay, especially as the entry point for our products into the United States. To give a sense of scale, Uruguay exports more than US$1.5 billion to the United States, of which almost US$400 million enters through Miami. That is in goods — but we also export services: the United States is the main destination for our technology and information-services exports, and there are already Uruguayan tech companies based here in Miami,” said Mariana Ferreira, Executive Director of Uruguay XXI.

The gathering reinforced Uruguay's broader strategy to strengthen ties with the U.S. market, one of the world's most important sources of tourism, investment and trade. American travelers are increasingly seeking authentic cultural experiences, gastronomy and nature-based destinations — attributes that have positioned Uruguay as one of South America's most attractive and welcoming destinations. Visitor arrivals from the United States continue to grow strongly: during the first four months of 2026, Uruguay welcomed a record 36,868 U.S. visitors, the highest figure ever recorded for that period.

Known as the birthplace of the FIFA World Cup — which it hosted and won in 1930 — Uruguay remains one of football's most iconic nations, with four FIFA-recognized world titles. Beyond the pitch, the country has become one of Latin America's leading technology hubs and the region's largest software exporter per capita, while remaining a trusted supplier of premium products such as beef, wine and dairy. Recognized internationally for its democratic stability, transparency and renewable-energy leadership, Uruguay hosts more than 1,400 multinational companies that operate from the country as a gateway to South American markets.

Throughout the week, Uruguay's presence in Miami served to deepen commercial, cultural and institutional relationships, reinforcing the country's position as a trusted partner, a premium destination and a gateway to South America.