STORY: Competitors tossed and twirled pizza dough in Buenos Aires on Friday (September 4), showing off their best moves as they attempted to impress judges of the Pizza and Empanada World Cup 2026.

The event, in only its second edition, drew spectators over three days as they witnessed international participants competing in twelve categories including mozzarella, fugazza, speed and the biggest pizza.

On Friday, Venezuelan pizza maker Rubens Peña took home the title for the freestyle category, where competitors spin and juggle dough in the air.

The overall winner is awarded with a trip to Parma, Italy, to compete in the World Pizza Championship 2027.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (SEPTEMBER 4, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF CONTESTANT IGNITING FIRE ON PIZZA DOUGH AND JUGGLING IT

2. AUDIENCE FILMING

3. CONTESTANT PERFORMING JUGGLING ROUTINE WITH PIZZA DOUGH

4. AUDIENCE APPLAUDING

5. JUDGES SCORING CONTESTANT

6. VARIOUS OF CONTESTANT COMPETING IN FREESTYLE CATEGORY

7. WOMAN LOOKING IMPRESSED

8. CONTESTANT TWIRLING DOUGH WHILE FLEXING ON THE FLOOR

9. VARIOUS OF CONTESTANT COMPETING

10. CONTESTANTS, JURY WATCHING PERFORMANCE

11. VARIOUS OF WINNER RUBENS PENA RECEIVING TROPHY

12. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FREESTYLE PIZZA WINNER, RUBENS PENA, SAYING:

“It’s a big, enormous joy because not only is one person but behind there’s a whole country, a whole work and process—days going to sleep late, hardworking days, and thanks to that work, here you see the results.”

13. VARIOUS OF PENA PERFORMING

14. CONTESTANTS WATCHING

15. PENA PERFORMING