EURO 2032: Italy’s 11 host city candidates and the final cut | OneFootball

EURO 2032: Italy prepares for the challenge of organization. Eleven cities vying to host the event

With the joint organization of the 2032 European Football Championship assigned to Italy and Turkey, the official countdown has begun for the selection of the Italian cities that will host the event.

EURO 2032, Italy at the center: the 11 candidate cities and the challenge of the final choice

Currently, there are 11 urban centers in the running, but only five will be selected and presented to UEFA as official venues.

The FIGC has until July 31, 2026, to deliver the final list of the five venues, while official ratification from UEFA is expected by October of the same year. But the selection will be anything but simple: between existing projects, facilities to be renovated, and stadiums still on paper, each candidacy presents advantages and challenges.

The 11 Italian candidate cities: between ready facilities, delays, and uncertainties Here is the complete list of cities currently under examination, with the status of their respective facilities:

Turin – Allianz Stadium: already compliant with UEFA standards, it is the only facility considered ready without the need for interventions.

Rome – Stadio Olimpico / New Roma Stadium / New Flaminio: many uncertainties related to bureaucracy and the identification of the final project.

Milan – San Siro / New Inter-Milan stadium: San Siro does not meet UEFA requirements; the new joint project remains blocked at the administrative level.

Florence – Stadio Artemio Franchi: renovation started, with the project in an advanced phase, but financial and authorization issues remain.

Bologna – Stadio Renato Dall’Ara: a significant restyling intervention already approved is planned.

Naples – Stadio Maradona / New Napoli stadium: situation still fluid, between renovation hypotheses and new facility.

Bari – Stadio San Nicola: substantial adjustment needed to meet international requirements.

Genoa – Stadio Luigi Ferraris (Marassi): iconic facility, but dated. Major interventions are needed.

Cagliari – New Sant’Elia stadium: project in an advanced phase but not yet ready for construction.

Palermo – Stadio Renzo Barbera: facility with great potential, but requires a structural modernization.

Verona – Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi: among the less credited options, even though it already exists.

UEFA criteria and deadlines to be respected UEFA has set strict criteria: the candidate stadiums must be ready, or at least ready for construction, by April 2027. This means that the selected cities must ensure that the project is:

Approved at the executive level

Fully funded

Ready to start work

These conditions give an obvious advantage to those facilities already operational or in an advanced phase of renovation, compared to completely new projects that risk getting bogged down between authorizations, variations, and bureaucratic obstacles.

A dossier that will also be a political choice It's not just a technical evaluation. The FIGC's decision will also be a strategic vision choice for the country. From the enhancement of the South (with Palermo, Bari, and Naples) to the confirmation of the traditional major football poles (such as Milan, Rome, Turin), passing through emerging realities such as Florence, Bologna, and Cagliari, the range of candidates is wide and geographically well distributed.

But apart from geopolitics, what will really make the difference will be the timing and efficiency in implementing the projects. Whoever is ready, with all the paperwork in order and work that can be started within the set times, will have a clear path to enter the final shortlist.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.