What will a World Cup across six countries look like?

It has been suggested that the first three matches of the 2030 World Cup should take place in South America as part of the event's 100th anniversary celebration.

The World Cup is being held across six nations, spanning over five distinct time zones. It involves countries from three distinct continents, each with their own unique climate and season. Despite these differences, the World Cup is an event that unites the world in a global celebration of sport.

It is hard to picture the plans for the 2030 competition actually happening, as it involves hosting the tournament in South America, Africa, and Europe.

This upcoming World Cup will be unique because it will take place on more than one continent. The only other time this has ever happened was in 2002, when South Korea and Japan, two neighboring countries, hosted the event together.

It is expected that there will be a change in the upcoming 2026 World Cup as it will be jointly hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada. However, this event will not be as grand as the 2030 World Cup is anticipated to be.

Spain, Portugal, and Morocco have been selected as joint hosts, but the initial three matches will occur in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay in honor of the World Cup's 100th anniversary.

How exactly will this play out? And what effects will it have on athletes and supporters? BBC Sport examines the main concerns.

Can One Country Host A 48-team World Cup?

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first event held in Montevideo, Uruguay, one game will be held in each of the host countries, namely Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay.

In 2030, the first game of the soccer tournament will be held in the capital city of Uruguay. Afterwards, games will be played in Argentina and Paraguay before moving on to other locations in northern Africa and Europe for the remainder of the event.

This signifies that after the initial games, the competition will be divided among three countries, just like the blueprint for the 2026 World Cup.

For the very first time, the number of teams participating in the World Cup will be increased to 48 and it will be held in 16 different cities that are located in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.

This, combined with Fifa's choice to stick with the four-team grouping style, will result in a rise in the amount of games played from 80 to 104. Additionally, a fresh last-32 phase will be introduced.

Although just one out of 22 previous World Cups has had more than a single host country, due to the tournament's growing size, there may be an increase in the number of multi-nation bids put forward by potential hosts.

Is It Truly A Two-season Series?

Due to the hemisphere shift, some teams may encounter a strange situation where they participate in two distinct seasons during the same World Cup.

Players who are scheduled to participate in the first three matches in South America, then continue their tournament in either Europe or North Africa, will experience a rapid shift from winter to summer conditions within a few days.

During the month of June, the climate in Uruguay is typically chilly with average temperatures ranging from 8C to 15C due to winter season, whereas, contrarily in Morocco, temperatures can be hot going above 30C.

Uruguay's neighboring country, Argentina, has comparable mountain ranges. In contrast, to the north, Paraguay has an average high temperature of 23C, which is warmer than Uruguay.

However, this temperature is still much lower compared to the scorching heat forecasted in certain regions of Spain and Portugal. These areas, just like Morocco, usually experience maximum daily temperatures of around 35C during the month of July.

Travel, Scheduling & Environment Issues - Any Solutions?

More information will be disclosed later, however it is evident that more traveling will be necessary for everyone, including supporters who wish to accompany their team.

The preparations for the occasion cannot be made until the details regarding the locations and timing are announced. Once the information is out, the transportation expenses incurred while traveling across continents and countries could potentially be very high.

The time difference between Paraguay and Spain, which is five hours, may cause difficulties for viewers who are not present at the event, particularly during the initial stages. This could pose a challenge for scheduling.

This presents an extra challenge for individuals who wish to play their first game in South America, as the average travel time between Argentina and Spain is approximately 13 hours.

The additional travels have prompted doubts regarding Fifa's dedication to sustainability, especially since environmentalists have criticized their claim that Qatar 2022 would be emission-free as "risky and inaccurate."

According to the governing body, the upcoming 2026 World Cup is expected to garner a record-breaking profit increase of £521m and will also be the most impactful tournament in terms of emissions.

According to Gianni Infantino, the president of Fifa, the reason for the expansion of the World Cup was due to the desire to make the tournament more diverse and inclusive. He claims that the decision was not motivated by a desire for money or control.

According to BBC Sport, Fifa has stated that they are fully aware of the urgency of climate change and believe that urgent and sustainable climate action is required from everyone.

The statement further stated that Fifa is fully cognizant of the consequences that colossal events can have on the economy, environment, individuals, and communities. It has been endeavoring to address these effects through substantial measures.

The organization declared that they will carry out an effective plan to ensure sustainability during the occasion. They promised to make every effort to enhance the experience of the players, supporters, and personnel while also reducing the negative effects on the environment.

How Fans Will Experience The 'logistical Nightmare'?

The World Cups are closely associated with the countries that host them, the way they organize the competition, and the chance for both teams and supporters to immerse themselves in the local customs and traditions.

The tournament will take place in different countries, and all six host nations can join without qualification. This means that each country may have diverse encounters during the tournament.

In case the suggestion is given the green light at a Fifa gathering in the upcoming year, Morocco will be the second African state to hold the event following South Africa's in 2010. Portugal will have its initial experience of being the host country, whereas Spain has not hosted the tournament since 1982.

Could the pleasure of traveling be impacted by the large size and expenses linked to the upcoming tournaments for those excited to explore?

According to Garford Beck, an England football enthusiast who frequently attends major tournaments to watch the team play, organizing such a trip would be a challenging feat. This was communicated during an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live.

The journey from Moscow to Samara for the quarter-finals in Russia was a terrible experience, taking a grueling 18 hours by train, both ways.

I believe their comprehension lacks the understanding that tournaments being held across multiple countries, particularly six or three, is not well received among fans.