ROME – Italy’s co-hosting rights for the 2032 UEFA European Championship are under threat due to concerns over the condition of its football stadiums, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin warned Thursday. The stark assessment casts a shadow over the tournament plans and raises questions about whether Euro 2032 will remain a joint venture between Italy and Turkey.
Ceferin, in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, stated unequivocally that the tournament will proceed as scheduled, but its location within Italy is contingent on significant infrastructure improvements. “Euro 2032 is scheduled and will take place, of that there is no doubt. I just hope that the infrastructure [in Italy] will be ready. If that’s not the case, the tournament will not be held in Italy,” he said. This isn’t the first time Ceferin has voiced concerns; he previously lamented the state of Italian stadiums back in May.
The warning comes at a sensitive time for Italian football, still reeling from the national team’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Italy missed out on a spot in the tournament after losing to North Macedonia in a playoff match in March 2026, marking the third consecutive World Cup the Azzurri will be absent from. Ceferin acknowledged Italy’s historical importance in the sport, stating the nation “will return to the top,” but emphasized that addressing the stadium issue is paramount. He pinpointed the “relationship between the football authorities and politics” as the biggest problem facing Italian football.
Eleven Cities in the Running, But Progress is Uneven
Italy was initially slated to name the five host cities for Euro 2032 in October 2026. Currently, eleven cities have submitted bids: Rome, Florence, Bologna, Verona, Milan, Genoa, Bari, Naples, Turin (home to Juventus’ Allianz Stadium), Cagliari, and Palermo. But, the plans for hosting aren’t uniform across these candidates.
A significant hurdle is that two of the proposed venues – new stadiums in Milan and Rome – are still under development. Inter Milan and AC Milan have initiated a project to construct a new San Siro stadium, replacing the iconic but aging venue. Similarly, AS Roma received approval in March 2026 from the Rome city council to build a new stadium in the Pietralata district, but construction isn’t expected to begin until 2027. These projects face potential delays due to Italy’s often-lengthy administrative processes, a point of frustration for Serie A clubs who spot it as hindering modernization efforts.
Currently, only Juventus’ Allianz Stadium in Turin is fully equipped to host matches as is. This leaves a considerable amount of work to be done across the other potential host cities to meet UEFA’s standards. The lack of modern, well-maintained stadiums isn’t just a concern for Euro 2032; it’s a broader issue impacting the overall quality and appeal of Italian football.
The situation highlights a broader trend in European football, where hosting rights for major tournaments are increasingly dependent on the quality of infrastructure. The awarding of Euro 2032 to Italy and Turkey – a joint bid finalized in October 2023 – was, in part, a reflection of UEFA’s desire to expand the tournament’s reach and modernize its venues. This will be the first time Turkey has hosted matches in the European Championship, while Italy will be hosting for the fourth time, having previously hosted in 1968 and 1980, and partially in 2020.
The Italian-Turkish bid was unique in that it paired nations not geographically close, a departure from recent trends where multiple nations within close proximity have shared hosting duties. This decision underscored UEFA’s willingness to consider bids based on broader strategic goals, but it too places a greater emphasis on the logistical challenges of coordinating a tournament across a wider geographical area.
The stakes are high for Italy. Losing the right to co-host Euro 2032 would be a significant blow to the nation’s sporting prestige and economic prospects. It would also further fuel the debate over the need for greater investment in Italian football infrastructure. The coming months will be crucial as Italy races against time to convince UEFA that it can deliver a tournament worthy of the European Championship.
For now, the focus remains on meeting UEFA’s requirements and ensuring that Italy can fulfill its commitment as a host nation. The next key milestone is the deadline for Italy to finalize its list of five host cities, a decision that will ultimately determine whether the country remains a part of the Euro 2032 spectacle.
Fans can stay updated on the latest developments regarding Euro 2032 preparations through UEFA’s official website and Serie A’s official channels. The situation is fluid, and further announcements are expected in the coming weeks.
Keep reading
