Football

Euro 2032: deadline for stadium bids has passed

It will be up to the Italian Football Federation, however, to make the final decisions. There are two months to do so – namely August and September – because on 1 October, UEFA, the organiser of the European Championships, will want to have five ‘strong’ stadiums on the table, chosen by the FIGC.

by Lorenzo Pace

31 July 2026

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2' min read

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Versione italiana

Key points

The Palermo case
Who can apply
What will happen over the next two months

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

31 July has arrived – the final day on which bids to host matches at the 2032 European Championship can be submitted to the Italian Football Federation. Italia will co-host the tournament with Turkey, with each country providing five stadiums.

A deadline which, whilst it might initially have seemed ‘generous’, ultimately proved to be a lifeline, giving the cities – in some cases in collaboration with the clubs – time to submit all the correct documentation. The case of Palermo is a prime example.

The Palermo Case

Let’s start by saying that the situation in the Sicilian capital is one of the most unusual. This is because the process to authorise the refurbishment of the Renzo Barbera stadium was indeed completed in record time, having begun just ten months ago. So much so that it has made waves throughout the European football world.

The problems only arose this week. The issue relates to the agreement that had been reached with the company (City Group, the same organisation that owns Manchester City), which is funding the refurbishment with around 300 million euros. Certain amendments to the agreement made by the City Council have led the company to backtrack, and now, with less than 24 hours to go before the deadline, the Council is working to find a new solution and get the project back on track.

Who is standing for election

Palermo is currently the only case in doubt. This is because the names of the candidate stadiums have been known for months now, so there should be no surprises. In total, there are 15 stadiums across 13 cities, from Verona and Genoa to Bari and Naples. The city with the most venues is Rome, which has put forward no fewer than three: the Olimpico and the new Pietralata and Flaminio stadiums.

Speaking of the Flaminio, it is clear that some bids are aimed at capitalising on the sporting event – and thus seeking greater financial gain – rather than genuinely aiming to be one of the five host stadiums.

What will happen over the next two months

It will be up to the Italian Football Federation, however, to make the final decisions. There are two months to do so. That is, August and September. Because on 1 October, UEFA, the organiser of the European Championships, will want to have five ‘strong’ stadiums selected by the FIGC on the table. It is not certain that these will be the final choices: for this reason, the shortlist of five will be supplemented by a couple of other reserve options.

The final consultation phase will then begin. UEFA will assess various aspects, which go beyond just the match venues: above all, the logistics and management of major events in the city. This last point works in Rome’s favour, as in 2025 it successfully managed significant crowds, most notably during the Jubilee, which coincided with the election of the new Pope. It is for this reason that the capital is a strong contender to be awarded two stadiums.