Bridging Cultures

They exhibit

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  Andrés Ruiz Pérez

  Representative of the Mexican Embassy in Uruguay

  A Mexican diplomat specializing in public diplomacy and political affairs. A graduate of FLACSO Mexico, has extensive has in public diplomacy. He serves as Chief of the Political and Consular Affairs Section at the Mexican Embassy in Uruguay, where he has managed the bilateral agenda on political, cultural, and cooperation matters between the two countries. His participation in this discussion provides Mexico’s institutional perspective on one of the most significant moments in its recent history: hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

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  Fernando Lugrís

  Director General for Cultural Affairs — Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay

  Fernando Lugrís holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the Law School of the University of the Republic and speaks Spanish, English, French, Italian, Portuguese, and German. He has served as Director General for Cultural Affairs at the Uruguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs since October 2025, having previously served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the People’s Republic of China and Mongolia for a decade (2015–2025), and as Uruguay’s Permanent Representative to UNEP and UN-Habitat. Convinced that “Uruguay is a country where soft power far outweighs hard power,” he promotes the internationalization of culture as a central public policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is also a member of the National Commission for UNESCO in Uruguay.

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  Yamila Badell

  Uruguayan professional soccer player

  In 2012, she became the first Uruguayan woman to score in a World Cup, netting two goals at the U-17 World Cup in Azerbaijan. She was also the first Uruguayan female soccer player to play abroad, launching an international career that took her to Spanish clubs such as Málaga CF, CD Tacón, Racing de Santander, Real Oviedo, and SD Huesca. In Uruguay, she has won five Uruguayan Championships and scored nine goals in the CONMEBOL Libertadores. In 2025, she published the book *Pateando barreras. Hasta que juguemos todas* (Breaking Barriers: Until We All Play), in which she reflects on her career, her connection to soccer, and her vision for the space women must claim in the sport. Her participation in this event connects women’s soccer to the broader conversation about culture, representation, and identity.

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  Ximena Acosta

  Head of Tourism Development — Canelones Municipal Government

  With several years of experience in regional tourism management, she has represented the Government of Canelones at international events such as the Buenos Aires International Tourism Fair. He participated alongside the Minister of Tourism in the official launch of the 2026 summer season, positioning Canelones as a national leader in tourism. His perspective brings to the event the practical and regional dimension of what happens “beyond the event”: how major sporting and cultural events transform destinations and local economies.