Timing was everything for Guillermo Villanueva when he was asked to join the team at Umpires LLC for this season of 2025. He had played polo professionally for many years in Argentina - following in the footsteps of his father, a renowned 8-goal player, and traveled the globe with the sport. He had pursued his passion of breeding horses- with a highly successful program in Argentina, producing horses at a level to play in the Argentine Open. But the invitation to come to the United States to take up umpiring full-time came at the perfect moment.

“Breeding horses - that's my passion,” he said. “But the truth is that these days, I am so enthusiastic with the umpiring and the way the whole operation of Umpires LLC is working that I'm super happy, and I'm glad that I made this choice to come over [to the States].”

Villanueva was born into polo, playing serious chukkers by the age of nine. After he finished school, he traveled as a professional player to the UK and then further afield when a job with the Prince of Jordan saw him play in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Jordan and Dubai.

Villanueva has umpired for 15 years and recently completing a one-month annual stint in Sotogrande. He has also umpired regularly in the Argentine Open and he remembers his first time taking the field for the Open Final in Palermo in 2018. “I was anxious. Before you start a game like that you have some nerves in your stomach but I love being under pressure,” he said. “Those important games like semifinals or finals of big tournaments bring me that feeling and I love it.”