The Hotel Nacional de Cuba promoted a party at its pool this Sunday to watch the final of the 2026 World Soccer Cup between Argentina and Spain, with an entrance fee of 19,000 Cuban pesos per person.
The event, organized in collaboration with the entertainment company PMM (Por Más Música), offers the live transmission of the match on a giant screen by the pool at the iconic Havana venue, overlooking the Malecón, from 10 AM to 8 PM.
According to the announcement, the cover charge is 19,000 pesos per person and a consumption requirement of 6,000 pesos is set, figures that, without delving into deep analysis, are far from the purchasing power of the vast majority of the population.
“Enjoy the game with refreshing drinks, great food, and the best atmosphere. A unique setting, with the breeze from the Malecón and the energy of major events,” the hotel’s post states, inviting families, friends, and couples while warning that spaces are limited.
The price is striking in the context of the severe economic crisis that Cuba is experiencing.
The official average salary in Cuba during 2025 was 6,930 pesos per month, according to data from the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI) quoted by economist Elías Amor.
This means that the ticket price, excluding the consumption mentioned in the advertisement, is equivalent to almost three average monthly salaries.
Additionally, the minimum wage active since July 2026 is only 3,210 pesos, which makes the 19,000 pesos for the cover nearly six times that minimum monthly income.
The Hotel Nacional is not the only establishment that has sparked controversy over these types of prices.
In April 2026, a day pass to the pool at Iberostar Parque Central for 10,000 pesos sparked outrage on social media; in June, the Hotel Habana Libre advertised a similarly expensive day pass, and a VIP table at a concert in Varadero reached 600 dollars.
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