Euro 2032 organization under pressure: Italy must ready stadiums fast

In a bleak meeting room in Geneva, UEFA chairman Aleksander Ceferin discusses the growing concerns about the organization of Euro 2032. He points to the chaotic situation in Italy, where the infrastructure still lags far behind the prestige requirements of the tournament.

Stadiums not ready yet

Italy and Turkey have been jointly appointed as hosts, but the Italian stadiums still appear not to be ready for the European Championship. Ceferin tells La Gazetta dello Sport that most stadiums are owned by municipalities, meaning clubs are merely tenants and have little interest in investing.

He emphasizes that the problem is not only financial, but primarily structural. “Euro 2032 is the right opportunity to improve this model,” he says, while calling for swift, concrete steps.

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In August, thirteen cities expressed interest in hosting matches, and the announced large investments are seen as an encouraging sign. Nevertheless, time is pressing for both parties.

By hosting the European Championship, Italy would automatically qualify, a welcome bonus now that the country is in a football crisis. Ceferin feels the pain of a nation that has missed three consecutive World Cups.

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He concludes that Euro 2032 can not only become a sporting spectacle, but also an opportunity for a fresh start for the Italian national team, both at stadium and infrastructure level.