DESTINATIONS THE US | FLORIDA
focus FOOTBALL
Miami is hosting seven matches at this year’s Fifa
World Cup, and even if they don’t secure tickets to the
game, clients can still savour the good vibes at watch
parties and fan zones set up in public spaces and hotels across the Sunshine State.
Here are the dates of all the key Florida matches agents can use to help sell a stay.
June 15 Group H
Saudi Arabia v Uruguay
June 21 Group H
Uruguay v Cape Verde
June 24 Group C
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Lego alien at the entrance of Galacticoaster in Legoland Florida; Nickelodeon Hotel and Resort, opening in 2028; Cabana at The Luce, St Pete Beach PICTURES: Ron Blunt Studio; Shutterstock/Chad Robertson Media
Launch Bay – the walk-through attraction is being transformed into a child-friendly zone, complete with a flower garden, sketching spaces and an exhibit exploring the six stages of making an animated film. Over at Legoland Florida Resort, the family-friendly Galacticoaster will be the park’s first indoor rollercoaster, launching on February 27. Families begin by designing their own spacecraft, customising its shape, size, weaponry and wings, before a large green screen shows clients riding in their unique space-going designs. For something a little more educational, a new manatee habitat will open at Jacksonville Zoo in March, designed to inform visitors about the threats faced by this beloved Florida species and to rehabilitate injured manatees before they are released back into the wild.
GOOD SPORT As North America gears up for the Fifa World Cup, sports tourism is becoming a driver for travel – but football isn’t the only game in town. Pickleball, one of the fastest-growing sports in the UK, will be easier to keep up on holiday with two new pickleball courts opening this year in St Pete-Clearwater and a huge 43-court complex in Fort Lauderdale.
38 19 FEBRUARY 2026
Orlando also has its share of sports and gaming openings. A new sports and entertainment complex, Society Park, is due to debut this spring featuring three pickleball courts and nine padel courts along with shops, restaurants and a spa. Disney Springs will also add Level 99, a venue where clients can explore 60 themed game rooms, with challenges ranging from puzzles and duels to art hunts.
HOT HOTELS For clients who like a luxurious base to explore Orlando’s parks, a new W Hotel near Universal Epic Universe is set to open its doors in June. The sleek 22-storey building will contain a 2,000-seat venue, five bars and restaurants plus an adult-only pool. One of Florida’s biggest new openings will be the first Nickelodeon Hotel and Resort in the US, set to open in Kissimmee in 2028. Situated within the $1 billion Everest Place area, the Nickelodeon hotel will have more than 400 rooms and countless opportunities for little ones to encounter their favourite characters from Dora the Explorer to SpongeBob SquarePants. In Miami, there are 50 new hotels in the pipeline
Brazil v Scotland
June 27 Group K
Portugal v Colombia July 3
Match 86 Group J winners v
Group H runners-up July 11
Match 99
Quarter final July 18
Match 103 Bronze final
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
for 2026 and beyond, but one that’s causing a stir is ²
travelweekly.co.uk
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