LOS ANGELES and OAKLAND, Calif. (April 29, 2026) — Yerba Madre, the leading yerba mate brand in North America, today announced the world’s most famous bodyguard, Yassine Cheuko, as an official brand partner ahead of the 2026 international soccer tournament.

Known for his work alongside the game’s biggest global stars, Cheuko has become a recognizable figure for the role he plays around the sport’s most visible moments, helping create safe, positive connections and shared experiences between players and fans.

As global soccer takes center stage in the U.S., many of its long-held rituals are arriving with it. Across South America and throughout the global game, yerba mate - a traditional, naturally caffeinated herbal beverage known for its smooth, sustained lift - has long been part of soccer culture. In 2022, Argentina’s national team traveled with more than 1,000 pounds of mate, underscoring how deeply the ritual is woven into the sport.

Shared in locker rooms, at training grounds and between matches, yerba mate is a ritual rooted in focus, presence and connection. For Yerba Madre, Cheuko embodies those same qualities, helping protect the link between elite players and the fans who make the sport what it is.

“There are very few people in global futbol who occupy the space Yassine does, positioned between player and the fan, making connection possible where it otherwise could not happen,” said Ben Mand, CEO of Yerba Madre. “Yerba mate has always worked that way too. It brings people together through a shared ritual, and that spirit of connection is exactly what Yassine embodies.”

The partnership reflects both cultural alignment and product fit. Yerba mate’s smooth, sustained boost makes it a natural choice for Cheuko’s demanding routine, from pitch-side work to fan interactions to gym training. Through content and fan experiences, Cheuko and Yerba Madre will spotlight the beverage’s connection to soccer culture for a broader U.S. audience.

“My job is to protect people, especially in high-pressure moments,” said Yassine Cheuko. “In futbol, that means making sure players and fans can connect safely. Over the years, yerba mate has become a big part of that routine and lifestyle. Whether I’m training, working, or relaxing, it helps me stay focused and clear-minded throughout the day, while giving me a deeper connection to the game I love.”

The announcement builds on Yerba Madre’s broader momentum in sport. The brand launched its sports division in 2025 and has continued expanding through partnerships across soccer, basketball, combat sports, skate, surf and the outdoors, including club relationships with LAFC, Angel City and Vermont Green, and an expansive multi-sport athlete roster featuring soccer stars Casey Phair, Jeremy Ebobisse and Madison Hammond.

Fans can connect with Yerba Madre and learn more about mate’s benefits and the brand’s regenerative mission by visiting YerbaMadre.com and following @yerbamadre on social media.