Cheap Flights to
World Cup 2026

Book 4 to 5 months out — January through April 2026 is the best window from SJO or LIR. American, Delta, and Southwest all compete hard on Costa Rican routes, with frequent fare sales via newsletter in Q1. Because ESTA removes the visa-interview lead time, Ticos can book closer to the tournament than peers — but seat availability still tightens in April. For knockout rounds (late June to July 19), lock by March; La Sele qualification will pressure domestic demand even though diaspora traffic is smaller than Salvadoran or Honduran flows.

Yes — Costa Rica joined the US Visa Waiver Program in 2024, making it the first Central American country on the VWP and the second Latin American country after Chile. Costa Rican passport holders apply for ESTA at esta.cbp.dhs.gov, pay USD 21, and receive approval in minutes to hours. ESTA is valid for 2 years and allows multiple entries of up to 90 days each. Your passport must be a biometric e-passport (most Costa Rican passports issued since 2022 qualify). ESTA replaces the B1/B2 interview entirely. For Mexico, no visa needed for Costa Ricans. For Canada, eTA (CAD 7) online is required.

San José (SJO) is the primary international gateway with the most airlines, most frequency, and typically lowest fares. American, Delta, United, Southwest, JetBlue, and Avianca all run daily US flights. Liberia (LIR) in Guanacaste is the second airport, with year-round direct service to Atlanta, Houston, and Dallas on Delta, United, and American. LIR is convenient for travelers from northwest Costa Rica and pairs naturally with a pre or post-match Guanacaste beach stay. For Mexico host cities, Volaris Costa Rica runs SJO-MEX and SJO-GDL.

Yes — this is one of Costa Rica's World Cup advantages. International fans flying into SJO or LIR for a pre-match eco-tourism stop in Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, or Tortuguero, then onward to US host cities for matches, pair beautifully. Costa Rican travelers can reverse the trip: fly out to US matches, then return home for a post-tournament coastal holiday. LIR is right next to Guanacaste beaches. SJO is a 3 to 4 hour drive to most eco-lodges. Book domestic hops on Sansa for interior destinations.

Southwest is often the budget leader — direct SJO to Baltimore and SJO to Houston Hobby with no bag fees for 2 bags and a generous economy experience. American operates SJO to Miami and Dallas, often with competitive fares. JetBlue runs SJO to FLL. Spirit has entered the Costa Rican market with ultra-low-cost base fares that undercut everyone but charge aggressively for bags and seats. Compare total trip cost (base fare plus bags plus seats) rather than the teaser rate.

The Costa Rican colón (CRC) has been relatively stable versus the USD. Most Costa Rican credit and debit cards (BAC, BCR, Davivienda, Banco Nacional) work at US ATMs and retailers with typical 2 to 4% FX markups. Many Costa Rican airline bookings let you toggle between CRC and USD at checkout — paying in USD directly from a USD-denominated account (offered by BAC, Lafise, Scotiabank) skips the bank's conversion margin. US dollars are accepted widely throughout Costa Rica, so holding dollars ahead of your trip is easy.

Yes — CCSS (Caja) covers Costa Ricans domestically but not abroad, and US medical costs can overwhelm even wealthy travelers. A short-term US travel policy with USD 100,000 medical coverage costs USD 25 to USD 60 for a two-week trip via Assist Card, Universal Assistance, or BAC Seguros. ESTA does not include insurance — CBP requires you to have means to pay for emergencies but does not verify insurance at entry. Confirm football and stadium coverage, and keep a digital PDF of the policy on your phone for US hospital admission.