The report says the opening South American fixtures are scheduled for 8 and 9 June 2030, marking 100 years since Uruguay hosted and won the first World Cup. The six host nations are also reportedly due to qualify automatically.
That arrangement gives the tournament a powerful narrative, but it could produce an uneven start. The report says the teams involved in those early matches would have 11 to 12 days before their second group game, while opponents could have only five to six days for travel and recovery. Competitive balance will therefore depend heavily on the final schedule.
The 2026 World Cup will use a 48-team format, with 12 groups of four and a last-32 knockout stage. has not confirmed whether that structure will continue in 2030.
A further expansion to 64 teams has reportedly been proposed. That would likely mean 16 groups of four, with the top two advancing from each group. It would remove the need to compare third-placed teams across different groups, but add more matches, venues and travel to an already dispersed tournament.
The report says the remaining qualification places are expected to be decided through regional competitions between 2027 and 2029, although the total number of finalists is still unsettled. Until confirms the format, national associations, broadcasters and host cities cannot fully plan around the competition.
The next major storyline is the format decision itself. ’s choice will determine whether 2030 is remembered primarily for its centenary symbolism or for creating the most complex World Cup schedule yet.