Italy Threatened with Loss of Euro 2032 Hosting After Third World Cup Miss
UEFA issues stern stadium ultimatum
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin warned that Italy could be stripped of its Euro 2032 hosting duties unless the nation upgrades its crumbling stadium infrastructure. The warning follows Italy’s third consecutive failure to qualify for the World Cup, this time after a playoff defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Euro 2032 is in programme and will go ahead as scheduled. I hope the infrastructure will be ready. Otherwise, the tournament won't be played in Italy.
National outcry and political pressure
The fallout has sparked a civil war in Italian football. Sport minister Andrea Abodi has demanded a complete overhaul of the FIGC leadership, while Milan mayor Giuseppe Sala urged that a new stadium adjacent to San Siro be ready by 2031, otherwise Milan will be excluded from Euro 2032.
- Italy missed the 2026 World Cup after losing the playoff to Bosnia.
- Ceferin threatens to revoke Euro 2032 hosting rights.
- San Siro redevelopment must be completed by 2031.
- FIGC president Gabriele Gravina defended by Ceferin.
- Potential coaching change: Gennaro Gattuso may exit, with Antonio Conte or Massimiliano Allegri mentioned as successors.
Future of the Azzurri and Euro 2032
While political and infrastructural issues dominate headlines, the technical side of the Azzurri is in turmoil. The departure of Gattuso could usher in a new era, but without addressing stadium upgrades and political will, Italy’s Euro 2032 aspirations remain in jeopardy.
