The joint bid by Italy and Turkey to host the 2032 European Championship is currently facing serious challenges.
Details: UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin recently issued a stark warning to Italian authorities. He pointed out that Italy’s football infrastructure ranks among the poorest in Europe. If improvements are not made soon, Italy risks being dropped as a host, with the entire tournament potentially shifting to Turkey.
Currently, only Juventus‘ stadium in Turin has met UEFA’s compliance standards. Venues in Rome, Milan (San Siro), Naples, and other candidate cities are either severely outdated, having not undergone significant renovations since the 1990 World Cup, or are stalled by bureaucratic hurdles.
Adding to the challenges, many projects are still awaiting funding approvals, and plans for new stadiums, including those for the Milan clubs, face ongoing administrative delays.
UEFA’s message is clear:
“Euro 2032 will take place—there is no doubt about that. But if the infrastructure is not ready, the tournament will not be held in Italy.”
Reminder: Napoli has identified a backup for Conte should he take over the Italian national team.