Peruvian social media users have launched a backlash against Spanish streamer Ibai Llanos following his announcement of the 2026 Food World Cup online competition. Internet users in Peru are urging people not to vote in the contest, which pits Peru's national dish ceviche against Honduras's baleadas.
The reaction followed the public unveiling of the 2026 tournament matchups, in which Peru was paired against Honduras in an early round of voting across digital platforms.
Backlash over gastronomy tournament
Critics across social media questioned the purpose of the new contest, arguing that Peruvian gastronomy already enjoys widespread international recognition and does not need an online poll to prove its standing. One user urged others not to vote, stating that Peruvian cuisine was already highly ranked globally.
Other users questioned the direct benefits for the country, asking what Peruvians stood to gain from participating in another competition. Some commenters accused Llanos of profiting personally from the online engagement while offering no benefit to Peruvians, while others noted that the country currently faces more pressing national issues that deserve attention.
Previous Breakfast World Cup victory
The pushback stands in sharp contrast to the enthusiasm surrounding the previous Breakfast World Cup, an earlier online competition organized by Llanos. In that event, Peru claimed victory with pan con chicharrón, a traditional fried pork sandwich, after receiving millions of votes across YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.
Despite the widespread enthusiasm generated by that win, the formal recognition awarded to Peru was the tournament title and a golden frying pan. Llanos traveled personally to Peru at the end of 2025 to deliver the trophy.
Background of the content creator and dishes
Llanos is a prominent Spanish internet streamer and content creator with millions of followers across global streaming platforms. His chosen dish for Peru, ceviche, is a renowned seafood dish made from fresh raw fish cured in citrus juices like lime and seasoned with chili peppers. The Honduran competitor, the baleada, is a traditional Central American dish made of a folded flour tortilla filled with mashed fried beans, cheese and cream.
