Euro 2032: bid process closed – the ball is now in the FIGC’s court
The deadline for submitting a bid for a stadium expired at midnight on 31 July. Palermo, too, following the doubts that had arisen earlier in the week, managed to submit its application
Key points
On the final day for submitting bids to host the 2032 European Championships, all eyes were on Palermo. It was the city most at risk, given that just a few days before the deadline, the agreement with the City Football Group to fund the refurbishment of the Renzo Barbera stadium appeared to have fallen through, leaving the City Council racing against the clock to salvage the deal and avoid being left out of the running.
The Palermo case
The Sicilian capital formally submitted its bid last night, just before the deadline, following a week of uncertainty surrounding the agreement with the company providing more than 200 million euros in funding for the redevelopment of the Renzo Barbera stadium. Certain changes in the relationship with the City Council had thrown the agreement into doubt, forcing the City Council to work flat out in the final hours available. The deadlock was resolved in time: the documentation was submitted to the Italian Football Federation in the evening, along with the project developed by Palermo FC in collaboration with the international firm Populous and Turner and Townsend. The club emphasised that the process had started ‘from a position of disadvantage compared to other Italian cities’.
The authorisation process was, in fact, completed in less than a year, attracting attention even within European football circles. The club itself confirmed this, stating that the progress made so far “has already received attention and praise from the highest authorities”, including UEFA. Palermo’s application therefore brings the membership process to a close.
Other cities
The names that have been circulating for months – from Verona to Genoa, from Bari to Naples – have now been confirmed: in total, more than a dozen stadiums in as many cities, with Rome being the only city with multiple venues in the running, including the Olimpico, Pietralata and Flaminio. It is clear that some bids are aimed at capitalising on the momentum of the sporting event – and thus seeking greater financial returns – rather than genuinely aiming to be one of the five host stadiums.
Next steps
From here on, the ball is in the Italian Football Federation’s court; it has two months – August and September – to select the five host cities to be submitted to UEFA by 30 September, along with a couple of alternative options. In the first week of October, the Nyon-based organisation will announce its final decisions, which may not necessarily coincide with those put forward by the FIGC. In the meantime, a period of consultation will begin between the Federation and the proposing bodies, providing an opportunity to seek clarification and prevent any issues regarding the venues from being raised directly with UEFA.
