An Italian football official expressed concern over the possibility of Italy losing the right to host the UEFA European Football Championship 2032 if immediate measures are not taken to improve stadium conditions. Italy is set to co-host the tournament with Turkey in seven years. While Turkey boasts new stadiums and ready infrastructure following a national project over the last two decades, Italy lacks ten ready stadiums or concrete plans to host the 24-team, 51-match tournament. UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin described Italy’s current situation as shameful in May, adding that Italy has one of the worst infrastructures among Europe’s major countries. His words sounded an alarm, according to Ezio Simonelli, president of the Italian League Association. Simonelli stated in a radio interview, “I am really worried about Euro 2032.” He added, “Is our hosting of the event at risk?

I hope these are just my concerns, but when the UEFA president says Italy’s stadiums are in poor condition and the European Championship is in six years, we risk giving a bad impression internationally.” He continued, “It is unfortunate that our stadiums, except for Udine, Bergamo, and Turin, are in poor condition. Čeferin criticized Italian stadiums, and I agree with him.” Italy needs to build and renovate its stadiums, but construction projects, including the San Siro stadium in Milan and the Olimpico in Rome, may be hindered by bureaucracy. Simonelli said, “We are now behind all other countries; in the last 18 years, we have built only six stadiums, three of which are in the Italian league, while 226 other stadiums have been built in the rest of Europe.”