After an intense two-day competition at the recent International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE), Team Canada and Team USA were crowned winners of the Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie-Americas Selection, regarded internationally as the “World Cup of Baking.” The two teams earned the honor of representing the Americas at the world championship in Paris, France.
Team Canada took first place in the event, held in Las Vegas earlier this week, while Team USA claimed the runner-up spot. Team Brazil won third place.
Held at IBIE—the largest grain-based food industry event in the Western Hemisphere—the competition brought together leading professional baking teams from the United States, Brazil, Canada, Ecuador and Mexico to compete in three categories: Bakery, Viennoiserie, and Artistic Bread Showpiece.
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“These events are a true emotional journey for the bakers, who openly share the results of their hard work and preparation,” said Team USA Coach William Leaman. “It is inspiring to see how each team responds to the challenges, especially after dedicating so much time and passion to their craft.”
According to Jason (Zhenkun) Wang of Team Canada, “Reaching the podium and winning at the Americas Selection in Vegas was a testament to pushing past exhaustion and doubt. This victory proves that hard work, passion, and self-belief can take you further than you ever imagined.”
The Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie is one of the most esteemed competitions in the industry. By hosting the Americas Selection, IBIE underscores its role as a hub where baking professionals connect, compete and showcase talent that influences the industry worldwide.
The competition unfolded over two days during IBIE 2025, with teams demonstrating precision, creativity and technical mastery across multiple disciplines. Judges evaluated performance on artistry, taste and execution, ultimately determining the two winning teams who now continue on to Paris.
“The Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie represents the elite of the baking world,” said Romain Dufour of the Académie Culinaire de France (USA & Canada Delegation), organizers of the Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie–Americas Selection. “This competition drives global trends, fostering new techniques for bakers worldwide. It’s a unique opportunity to witness five teams competing in the Americas Selection to represent their countries in the most prestigious baking competition.”
