UEFA Executive reassures Italy over Euro 2032, but warns Milan and Naples

Michele Uva, the UEFA Executive Director for the 2032 Euros, is confident that Italy will not lose its role as co-host of the 2032 Euros, but warns Milan and Naples: If they don’t ‘meet the requirements’, they won’t be among the host cities.

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UEFA Executive Director for the 2032 Euros Michele Uva spoke about the state of Italian stadiums during an event in Milan on Thursday, as quoted by Gazzetta.

Just a few weeks ago, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin threatened to remove Italy as a co-host of the competition due to the country’s poor infrastructure.

“I hope infrastructure will be ready,” Ceferin told Gazzetta on April 2. “Otherwise, the tournament will not be played in Italy.”

Uva commented on Ceferin’s claims during the event Il Foglio a San Siro: “He is right, and he’s sent a clear message. We are working intensively, and I am convinced that Italy will host the European Championship with five stadiums.

“There are no delays, and we are perfectly in line with the planned roadmap. No alarmism,” Uva continued.

“We just need to keep working all together. After a strong acceleration over the last six months, eight venues have timelines that allow their candidacy. By mid-September, the FIGC will choose the five to submit to UEFA, and in the first week of October, the host cities will be ratified. There is ongoing, close dialogue with the Government. We cannot afford to lose the European Championship. By working together, we’ll not lose it.”

As recently reported by Italian media, only Juventus’ Allianz Stadium in Turin currently meets the requirements to host European Championship games without further construction or redevelopment.

The Bianconeri’s Allianz Stadium has a capacity of 40,000, while the Stadio Meazza in San Siro, Milan, has failed a UEFA inspection, meaning the city will only host the tournament if Inter and Milan build a new stadium in time.

“If Milan does not build a new stadium, we’ll host the event without Milan. Inter and Milan went to UEFA 15 days ago to present the timeline and the project,” Uva said.

“If, in the meantime, the process slows down and if Milan, like Naples, does not meet the requirements, they will not be included in the bid dossier.”

Milan and Inter officially acquired the San Siro area, including the Stadio Meazza, just a few months ago, but the deal is now under investigation from Italian authorities.