Spain, Portugal and Morocco are expected to stage the main body of the tournament. But the centenary edition will also begin with commemorative fixtures in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
The reported arrangement means all six nations would enter without facing the usual qualifying campaign. It also links the tournament to 1930, when Uruguay hosted and won the first World Cup after defeating Argentina in the final.
For Paraguay, the decision reportedly recognises its role as the home of South American football’s governing body. Symbolism, rather than geography alone, is driving the format.
The biggest challenge may be competitive balance. The report says the South American matches are planned for 8 and 9 June, with the main tournament opening in Europe and North Africa on 13 and 14 June.
Further group matches involving Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay would reportedly follow on 15 and 16 June, with the second round delayed to provide additional recovery time.
That could give the six teams involved in the opening South American fixtures roughly 11 to 12 days before their next match, while other nations may have only around five to six days. The extra rest is designed to offset long-distance travel, but it could also create a new advantage for some teams.
Hosting a World Cup has always brought automatic qualification, but 2030 would stretch that principle across three continents. The result is a tournament that is part celebration, part logistical experiment.
The next major storyline will be the final calendar and qualifying framework. Once those details emerge, football will discover whether the centenary format can balance heritage, travel and sporting fairness-or whether its symbolism creates as many questions as it answers.