A medida que el cronómetro avanza hacia el pitazo inicial de la Copa del Mundo de 2026, el comportamiento del consumidor en América Latina está experimentando una transformación estructural.

Según el más reciente informe de Kantar Worldpanel, publicado este 16 de abril, el servicio de comida a domicilio (delivery) ha dejado de ser un simple canal logístico para integrarse plenamente en la experiencia social y emocional de los partidos.

​El estudio, que se fundamenta en más de 5,000 entrevistas realizadas en mercados clave como Brasil, Argentina, México, Perú, Ecuador y la región de Centroamérica y el Caribe, revela una tendencia contundente: el hogar será el epicentro del torneo.

Un abrumador 86% de las personas encuestadas planea ver los encuentros desde la comodidad de su casa, lo que redefine por completo la jornada de consumo y traslada el gasto que antes se realizaba en bares o restaurantes directamente al entorno doméstico.

​En este nuevo ecosistema donde el hogar asume el protagonismo, surgen dos dinámicas que compiten y se complementan: la preparación de alimentos en casa y la solicitud de pedidos externos. Sin embargo, es en América Central y el Caribe donde el fenómeno del delivery muestra su mayor músculo.

​Mientras que en potencias futbolísticas y mercados de gran volumen como México y Argentina el porcentaje de consumidores que planea pedir comida durante los partidos oscila entre un 17% y un 26%, en la región centroamericana y caribeña esta cifra se dispara hasta el 34%. Este dato no solo posiciona a Centroamérica por encima de los gigantes del sur, sino que evidencia un nivel de madurez y adopción tecnológica del canal mucho más avanzado de lo previsto.

Esta brecha sugiere que, para el consumidor centroamericano, la eficiencia de las plataformas digitales ya es una parte intrínseca de su estilo de vida, superando incluso a países donde el fútbol suele paralizar la actividad económica de forma más tradicional.

​El informe de Kantar Worldpanel introduce un matiz psicológico relevante al clasificar a los consumidores en tres perfiles: los Apasionados, los Eventuales y los Desinteresados. Para los primeros, aquellos que siguen cada jugada con intensidad, el delivery funciona como un “facilitador crítico”; su objetivo es evitar interrupciones y no perderse ni un segundo de la transmisión.

​Por otro lado, los consumidores eventuales o desinteresados ven en el canal de domicilio una solución de último minuto marcada por la comodidad, a menudo sin una planificación previa. Esta distinción es vital para las marcas, ya que el comportamiento varía drásticamente según el nivel de compromiso con el evento deportivo.

​En contraste, en países como Brasil, el movimiento del delivery está intrínsecamente ligado al entorno digital y la hiperconectividad. Los consumidores brasileños más comprometidos con el Mundial son también los más activos en aplicaciones y plataformas de mensajería, convirtiendo estos medios en canales de venta obligatorios durante los 90 minutos de juego.

​Finalmente, el análisis estratégico de Kantar subraya que durante este Mundial, la conveniencia y el timing dejarán de ser valores añadidos para convertirse en requisitos básicos. Para los comercios y marcas en Centroamérica, el reto no será simplemente “estar” en la aplicación, sino garantizar una ejecución impecable que entienda que el delivery ya no es un servicio externo, sino un invitado más en la sala de cada hogar centroamericano.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the time has come for Cuba’s government to be «put out to pasture» while speaking at a bill-signing event on Friday afternoon.

«If you look at the state of Cuba today and in 2026, it is time for the Cuban communist dictatorship to be put out to pasture once and for all,» DeSantis said.

«That would be a good thing for our country. It would be a good thing for Florida,» he continued.

Although he stopped short of calling on President Donald Trump to take military action to liberate the communist island that sits just 100 miles off the coast of Florida, DeSantis’ comments show that Trump isn’t the only Republican keeping an eye on instability in Havana.

RUBIO SAYS CUBA NEEDS ‘NEW PEOPLE IN CHARGE’ AS BLACKOUTS, UNREST GRIP ISLAND

His comments framed his reasoning around a new Florida law that looks to restrict Cuban-linked businesses operating in the Sunshine State in violation of U.S. sanctions.

«You can’t do business with criminals,» DeSantis said.

DeSantis noted that, under Trump’s leadership, the U.S. has taken a renewed, aggressive posture toward securing its interests in the region, positing that some degree of American intervention would be consistent with the administration’s outlook.

«Certainly, President Trump, and how he’s viewed the importance of our own hemisphere, [has] kind of reinvigorated the Monroe Doctrine,» DeSantis said, referring to the interventionist geopolitical philosophy espoused by U.S. President James Monroe.

Trump sparked speculation that the U.S. might take military action against Cuba earlier this year, hinting that he might «take» the island.

«I do believe I’ll have the honor of taking Cuba… That’s a big honor. They’re a very weakened nation right now. They were for a long time,» Trump told reporters in March.

TRUMP DECLARES NATIONAL EMERGENCY OVER CUBA, THREATENS TARIFFS ON NATIONS THAT SUPPLY OIL TO COMMUNIST REGIME

Supporters of President Donald Trump protest against Cuba’s government in Miami, Florida, on Feb. 28, 2026. (Marco Bello/Reuters)

Trump did not expand on what recourse the U.S. could take against the island or when such an action could occur. His comments came on the heels of a military operation that had removed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and, as a consequence, spurred local unrest in Cuba over energy shortages.

Cuba, which has depended on Maduro’s regime and Venezuelan oil to power its energy grid for much of the past 30 years, has found itself struggling to prevent rolling blackouts.

DeSantis’s comments on Cuba came as he signed the Foreign Interference Restriction and Enforcement Act on Friday — a bill that grants Florida the power to revoke business licenses with ties to Cuba, among other countries.

«It does a lot of different things, but particularly with respect to Cuba, it authorizes local governments and tax collectors to revoke business tax receipts for businesses operating in Cuba in violation of federal law.

PAIR OF DEMOCRAT LAWMAKERS SLAM ‘BLOCKADE OF FUEL’ TO CUBA, ‘ECONOMIC BOMBING’ AFTER VISIT TO ISLAND

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis praised the Justice Department for dismissing a complaint tied to the Hope Florida scandal, calling the investigation a politically motivated «witch hunt» and asserting the initiative’s actions were legal and appropriate. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

«It creates accountability for false declarations regarding business activities in Cuba; knowingly submitting a false declaration related to unlawful activity involving Cuba will now constitute a third-degree felony in the state of Florida,» DeSantis said.

When asked about DeSantis’ comments, a White House spokesperson didn’t comment on whether the U.S. would intervene in Cuba’s current situation, but reaffirmed that the administration believes the regime’s days are numbered.

«As the President stated, Cuba is a failing nation that has been horribly run for many years and whose rulers have had a major setback with the loss of support from Venezuela. As the President stated, Cuba is a failing country. Within a short period of time they will fall, ‘and we will be there to help them out,’» the spokesperson said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday said he thinks the war with Ukraine could end soon.

«I think that the matter ⁠is coming to an end,» Putin told reporters, according to Reuters.

Putin’s words came a day after Trump announced a three-day ceasefire to celebrate the Soviet Union’s victory in World War II, as well as a massive prisoner exchange between both nations.

The ceasefire began on Saturday and will run through Monday, Trump wrote on Truth Social. «The celebration in Russia is for Victory Day but, likewise, in Ukraine, because they were also a big part and factor of World War II.»

TRUMP ANNOUNCES SURPRISE THREE-DAY CEASEFIRE IN RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR

«This ceasefire will include a suspension of all kinetic activity, and also a prisoner swap of 1,000 prisoners from each country,» he added. «This request was made directly by me, and I very much appreciate its agreement by President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.»

The day was celebrated with Russia’s most scaled-back Victory Day parade in years.

The war in Ukraine has dragged on for more than four years after Russia invaded the country in February 2022, with the Kremlin initially believing it could win quickly yet Russia still hasn’t been able to take the entire Donbass region.

US SPECIAL ENVOY WITKOFF ANNOUNCES US, UKRAINIAN AND RUSSIAN DELEGATIONS AGREED TO PRISONER SWAP

President Donald Trump walks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on Aug. 15, 2025. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Putin told reporters that he would prefer to talk to German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder when asked about talks with European leaders.

He added that he would only consider speaking with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after a lasting peace deal had been agreed upon.

On X, Zelenskyy confirmed the exchange of prisoners captured during the four-year conflict, which began when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbor.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President-elect Donald Trump shake hands after their meeting at the Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris, France, on Dec. 7, 2024. (Ukrainian Presidency/Anadolu/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

«Within the framework of the negotiating process mediated by the American side, we received Russia’s agreement to conduct a prisoner exchange in the format of 1,000 for 1,000,» he wrote. «A ceasefire regime must also be established on May 9, 10, and 11. Ukraine is consistently working to bring its people home from Russian captivity. I have instructed our team to promptly prepare everything necessary for the exchange.»

Zelenskyy also thanked Trump for his diplomatic involvement in the process and said he hopes the United States will make sure Moscow abides by the agreement. 

Fox News’ Louis Casiano contributed to this report.