Cheap Flights to
World Cup 2026

Book 4 to 5 months out — February through April 2026 works well for SCL departures. Because Chilean citizens use ESTA (no visa interview), you can wait later than Argentine or Colombian travelers without risking paperwork delays. LATAM and American both run fare sales around Fiestas Patrias promotion weeks in September 2025, which was an early-bird window worth watching. For knockout rounds (late June to July 19), book by March — the cheapest LATAM economy buckets disappear before then.

Yes — Chile has been part of the US Visa Waiver Program since 2014, making it the only South American country with this privilege. Chilean 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. You still need a biometric passport (most Chilean passports issued since 2013 qualify). Mexico requires no visa for Chileans for stays under 180 days, and Canada requires eTA (CAD 7) — much cheaper and faster than a full visa.

LATAM dominates from SCL with direct service to Miami, New York (JFK), Los Angeles, and Dallas. American Airlines competes on Miami, Dallas, and Chicago. Delta runs Atlanta. For Mexican host cities, LATAM and Aeroméxico share the SCL-MEX market. Budget alternatives include JetSMART and Sky Airline for regional hops, but they do not fly direct to the USA; both can connect you to Lima or Buenos Aires for a cheaper onward LATAM fare. The JetSMART-Lima-LATAM combo is sometimes 30% cheaper than a direct SCL-MIA.

LATAM Pass is Oneworld, so miles work on American, British Airways, Qatar, and Iberia. SCL to Miami typically costs 45,000 to 60,000 LATAM Pass miles one-way in economy on LATAM metal, plus taxes. Oneworld partner redemption on American can be cheaper per mile but carries fuel surcharges. Transfer partners in Chile include several CMR and Banco de Chile credit cards; watch for 25 to 50% transfer bonuses in Q1 2026. Cash fares may beat miles once you add taxes, so compare before redeeming.

If you plan to attend matches in multiple host cities, book SCL to Miami or SCL to Los Angeles as a round trip, then use US domestic carriers (Southwest, JetBlue, Spirit, Frontier) for inter-city hops. A Santiago traveler following La Roja (if Chile qualifies) could easily hit three US cities for under USD 300 in domestic fares. For Mexico matches, Volaris and Viva Aerobus connect Mexican host cities for under USD 60 one-way. Use ESTA entries smartly — you can re-enter the US from Mexico or Canada on the same ESTA as long as your total stay stays under 90 days.

Lock your fare now in CLP — once paid, the airline price is fixed in pesos regardless of FX movement. For on-the-ground costs, the dollar rate at swipe is what you pay. The CLP has been volatile versus the USD, so consider holding dollars in a Chilean brokerage account (Fintual, LarrainVial) before the trip. Many Chilean banks now offer USD-denominated debit cards that let you lock dollars at today's rate — Banco de Chile's Mach and BCI's MachPay both have USD features worth checking before you leave.

Yes — Isapre and Fonasa do not cover US medical costs, and a single ER visit in the US can cost USD 5,000 to USD 20,000. A short-term travel policy with USD 100,000 medical coverage costs CLP 25,000 to CLP 70,000 for a two-week trip via Assist Card, Universal Assistance, or Sura. Chilean citizens sometimes assume ESTA includes insurance — it does not. Confirm football-related coverage (some budget plans exclude crowded events). Keep a digital copy of the policy on your phone; US hospitals want proof of coverage on arrival.