Days after missing out on the 2026 World Cup, Italy have been warned that their co-hosting of Euro 2032 could be in jeopardy.
Published April 2, 2026
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has warned that Italy risks not being able to co-host Euro 2032 with Turkjee, saying the condition of the country’s soccer stadiums is “among the worst in Europe”.
“There is no doubt that Euro 2032 is scheduled and will take place. We just hope that the infrastructure (in Italy) is ready. If not, the tournament will not be held in Italy,” Ceferin said in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper published on Thursday.
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“Perhaps Italian politicians should ask themselves why their football infrastructure is among the worst in Europe.”
Ceferin added that the biggest problem in Italian football is “the relationship between the football authorities and politics.”
In October, Italy will have to name the five stadiums that will host matches at Euro 2032, and there are currently 11 cities on the list: Rome, Florence, Bologna, Milan, Genoa, Bari, Naples, Turin, Cagliari and Palermo.
Italy can present new stadiums or stadiums that require redevelopment, as long as construction begins by March 2027.
Only Juventus’ Allianz Stadium in Turin is fully prepared to host matches in the summer’s international tournaments.
Inter Milan and AC Milan recently purchased San Siro from the City of Milan and hope to complete a new 71,500-seater arena on the same site as the current stadium by 2031.
However, the land sale is being investigated by the public prosecutor’s office in Italy’s economic capital on suspicion of collusion.
As Fiorentina’s Artemio Franchi stadium continues to be redeveloped, Rome has been granted permission by local authorities to build a new stadium east of the Eternal City.
Last month, the city of Naples announced a project to renovate the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, where Serie A champions Napoli play.
Maradona’s project, which includes the removal of the running track adjacent to the pitch, has a budget of 200 million euros ($230 million) and was presented by Mayor Gaetano Manfredi as something that needs to be carried out “regardless of 2032”.
The warning came just two days after Italy missed out on a third consecutive World Cup. Italy became the first former champion to hold the unwanted record.
Coach Gennaro Gattuso’s team lost 4-1 on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the UEFA play-off final, with qualification for the 2026 tournament on the line.
