After losing to Spain last month, the defeated Argentina players had one crumb of consolation: They knew where their next FIFA World Cup match would be. For the first time since 1978, the World Cup returns to Argentina in 2030 — a full 52 years later. It also goes to Paraguay for the first time and to Uruguay for the first time in a century.

Centenario Stadium in Montevideo will host the opening game.\n\nBut if this is a celebration, where is the joy? As it stands, the 2030 World Cup features precisely one game in each of the three South American countries. The real hosts are Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Awarding three games to South America comes across as a sop, a weak gesture to the continent.

Politically, it also clears the way for taking the 2034 tournament to Saudi Arabia. South America was not amused. CONMEBOL discussed expanding to 64 teams, which would give them more games to host.\n\nAll of this explains CONMEBOL's position during the recent crisis involving FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

South America kept quiet — there was no rush to defend Infantino, who had not given them what they wanted for 2030, but also no desire to make matters worse. South America has only 10 votes and needs allies, fearing European domination. The signs are that sticking with Infantino gives the best chance of being part of a 64-team World Cup in 2030.\n\nBut even that seems hollow.

June and July in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay can be like walking inside a fridge, while Spain, Portugal and Morocco bask in furious summer sunshine. Players may have genuine cause for concern about such a massive temperature difference on the two sides of the Atlantic.