ITALY'S STADIUM RACE

Italy is in a race against time to be ready to stage its first major tournament since the 1990 World Cup

- Words: Greg Whelan

Five venues to choose, up to €7 billion to be invested and six years to get the work done, Italy's stadium infrastructure is set for a radical overhaul as the country gears up for Euro 2032, which it is due to co-host with Turkey. At least three new grounds will be built from scratch, and several others upgraded in a long-overdue renovation of the country’s leading arenas.

The pressure is on, however, to satisfy UEFA. President Aleksander Ceferin has criticised the current condition of Italy's infrastructure as “terrible,” prompting fears that Europe's governing body might revoke its hosting rights altogether and switch the entire competition to Turkey.

The clock is also ticking. Only months remain for the projects to be approved and for the necessary funding to be found. Construction must begin by March 2027.

Italy and Turkey are due to provide half of the ten venues each for the 24-team tournament. While the latter has undertaken a wholesale modernisation of its grounds over the last two decades, its co-host has fallen behind most other European countries in this respect.

The majority of Italy's largest arenas, nearly all of which are publicly owned, were built before 1970 and have undergone little renovation since they hosted World Cup matches 36 years ago. A lack of funds, political wrangling and red tape have repeatedly been blamed for stalling projects.

Between 2010 and 2020, over 150 new stadiums were built in Europe. Only three were in Italy. Just one, Juventus’ Allianz Stadium in Turin, currently meets UEFA criteria to host a major tournament.

“Italy's football infrastructure is a shame,” said Ceferin in an interview with SportMediaset last year. “You are one of the biggest footballing countries, you've won many World Cups, Euros, Champions Leagues. At the same time, among the big countries you have by far the worst infrastructure.