UEFA chief warns Italy could lose Euro 2032 co-host status amid brutal “worst in Europe” claim

Italy’s role in hosting a major international tournament is under serious threat, and the warning from UEFA’s president could not be much clearer.

Aleksander Ceferin says Italy could lose Euro 2032 if stadium infrastructure does not improve

UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin has warned that Italy could be stripped of its role as co-host of UEFA Euro 2032 if its stadium infrastructure does not improve.

Italy is due to stage the tournament alongside Turkey, but concerns are mounting over the condition of its venues, many of which date back to the 1990 FIFA World Cup.

Ceferin did not hold back, describing Italy’s stadium infrastructure as “among the worst in Europe” and warning that failure to meet required standards could see matches moved elsewhere.

Italy must confirm its five host stadiums by October, with 11 cities currently in contention. However, only Allianz Stadium, home to Juventus, is currently considered fully ready.

Several projects are in the pipeline, including a proposed new stadium in Milan to replace San Siro, redevelopment work at Stadio Artemio Franchi, and renovation plans for Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

However, UEFA has set a clear deadline – construction work must begin by March 2027 for any new or upgraded venues to be considered.

FGG says: Not a lot of time for Italy to get their house in order

This is a huge wake-up call for Italian football.

On paper, six years until Euro 2032 feels like plenty of time, but major stadium projects don’t move quickly, especially in Italy, where bureaucracy and political hurdles are well-documented.

The fact that only one stadium is currently ready tells you everything about the scale of the challenge.

If delays continue or projects stall, UEFA won’t hesitate to act, and losing hosting rights would be a major embarrassment for a country with such a deep football heritage.

Italy now has a narrow window to get its house in order because if progress doesn’t come quickly, this could go from a warning to a very real consequence.