Hubwav Productions Sets Global World Cup Culinary Series ‘Pitch to Plate’ From Mando Fresko

The Los Angeles-based company is expanding its unscripted slate with a culture-driven food and football series timed to the global spotlight of World Cup 2026.

LOS ANGELES — Hubwav Productions, the media company founded by Mando Fresko, is stepping into the global arena with Pitch to Plate, a new unscripted culinary series that blends football culture with food storytelling ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The project, currently in production, will spotlight the intersection of sport, identity and cuisine, pairing notable football figures with acclaimed chefs across Los Angeles and beyond. Each episode is designed to explore how matchday rituals, local restaurants and cultural traditions shape the way communities experience the world’s game.

The series marks a strategic expansion for Hubwav, which has built a reputation for culture-first storytelling across sports, music and community-focused content. With Pitch to Plate, the company is leaning into the growing global appetite for football in the U.S., particularly as Los Angeles prepares to play a central role in World Cup 2026.

“This show is about more than the game,” Fresko said. “It’s about the stories around it — the food, the people, the culture. Football brings people together, and so does food. Pitch to Plate lives right at that intersection.”

Structured as a docu-style series, each episode will follow a guest through multiple food stops, weaving in personal narratives, cultural commentary and on-the-ground moments tied to football fandom. Segments will include conversational sit-downs, rapid-fire cultural takes and a closing “final bite” that ties each story together.

Production will take place across key Los Angeles locations, with additional cities expected to be incorporated as the series scales. The project is being developed in collaboration with local partners and aims to highlight small businesses and community staples, positioning the show as both a cultural document and a celebration of the host cities connected to the tournament.

The launch of Pitch to Plate comes as brands, networks and platforms ramp up investment in World Cup-adjacent content, seeking to capture the massive global audience expected in 2026. Hubwav’s entry into the space underscores a broader shift toward culturally grounded storytelling that resonates beyond traditional sports coverage.

While distribution and brand partnerships have yet to be formally announced, the series is expected to attract interest from streaming platforms and global sponsors looking to align with football’s cultural momentum.

For Fresko, whose career spans radio, television and digital media, the project represents a full-circle moment — merging his Los Angeles roots with a global stage.

“We’ve always believed in telling stories that feel real to the community,” he said. “With the World Cup coming to our backyard, this felt like the right story to tell — and the right time to tell it.”