Euro 2032: A Joint Hosting Venture Between Turkey and Italy

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has officially accepted the joint bid from Turkey and Italy to host the 2032 European Football Championship (EURO 2032). This landmark decision marks the second time in EURO history that two nations will collaboratively stage the tournament, following in the footsteps of EURO 2020, which was famously held across eleven different European cities. While EURO 2020 showcased a pan-European format, EURO 2032 will see a more geographically concentrated co-hosting, promising a unique blend of cultures and football passion from the Mediterranean nations.

Mehmet Büyükekşi, President of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), celebrated this achievement as a crowning moment for the Republic and the TFF’s centennial year. Turkey had initially expressed interest in hosting both EURO 2028 and 2032. However, strategic discussions led to a collaborative agreement with Italy for EURO 2032, resulting in the withdrawal of Turkey’s bid for EURO 2028, which was subsequently awarded to the UK and Ireland.

While Turkey has recently hosted prestigious events like the UEFA Champions League final, it has yet to be the primary host of a major international football tournament. Italy, in contrast, boasts a history of hosting EURO events, having done so in 1968 and 1980. Rome’s Stadio Olimpico was also among the venues for the widely distributed EURO 2020, demonstrating Italy’s capability to stage matches in a multi-host setup.

The joint bid emphasizes a strong partnership, with the TFF stating, “Italy and Turkey will work with great passion and dedication in close cooperation to deliver the ultimate European Championship experience to the fans in 2032.” The official motto for the tournament, “Play as One,” reflects this spirit of unity and shared responsibility. Former national team goalkeepers Volkan Demirel for Turkey and Gianluigi Buffon for Italy have been appointed as ambassadors, adding star power to the joint venture.

Each federation has presented UEFA with a list of ten candidate stadiums, from which five from each country will be selected to host the tournament matches.

Italy’s Candidate Stadiums:

• Milan: Stadio San Siro – Giuseppe Meazza
• Rome: Stadio Olimpico
• Bari: Stadio San Nicola (to be renovated)
• Naples: Stadio Diego Armando Maradona (to be renovated)
• Florence: Stadio Artemio Franchi (new stadium)
• Turin: Juventus Stadium
• Genoa: Stadio Luigi Ferraris (to be renovated)
• Verona: Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi (to be renovated)
• Bologna: Stadio Renato Dall’Ara (new stadium)
• Cagliari: Stadio Sant’Elia (new stadium)

Turkey’s Candidate Stadiums:

• Istanbul: Ataturk Olympic Stadium (to be renovated)
• Ankara: New Ankara Stadium (new stadium)
• Istanbul: Ali Sami Yen Stadium
• Istanbul: Sukru Saracoglu Stadium
• Bursa: Timsah Arena
• Trabzon: Senol Gunes Sports Complex
• Konya: Konya Metropolitan Stadium
• Gaziantep: Gaziantep Kalyon Stadium
• Eskisehir: Eskisehir Stadium
• Antalya: Antalya Stadium

Hosting EURO 2032 carries significant implications for Turkish football. Sports editor Zübeyde Özcan highlights the importance of hosting for infrastructure development and the growth of Turkish football talent. She emphasizes that hosting a tournament of this magnitude necessitates organizational and planning improvements across the nation’s football structure. Murat Çolakoğlu, Tivibu Spor Editor, points out that with the Turkish national team’s recent tournament performances falling short of expectations, automatic qualification as hosts is a crucial advantage. The nine-year lead-up to 2032 presents a valuable window to address long-standing issues, particularly stadium pitch quality, as these venues will be under intense scrutiny leading up to the tournament, requiring a robust public relations strategy.

Italian Sports Minister Andrea Abodi views the joint hosting of EURO 2032 as an opportunity to strengthen relations between the participating cities and the two nations. He anticipates positive legacies extending beyond the host cities, fostering tourism and contributing to improved political relations. Italy’s interest in a joint bid is partly attributed to existing stadium infrastructure challenges. Turkey is perceived to have a more readily available and modern football infrastructure. Minister Abodi has pledged political support for infrastructure development in preparation for the championship, aiming to enhance facilities, management models, and fan engagement.

Gabriele Gravina, President of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), expressed that this marks a historic turning point for Italy, as they haven’t had the chance to host such a major football event since 1990. He believes EURO 2032 will showcase Italy’s organizational and management capabilities on a grand European stage. Gravina also emphasized the unifying power of football and the cultural exchange that the joint hosting with Turkey represents, viewing it as a significant opportunity for European collaboration.

Murat Çolakoğlu notes that while Turkey may lack experience in hosting full-scale tournaments compared to Italy, it has successfully hosted major finals. However, the month-long EURO tournament presents different logistical challenges. The partnership with Italy is seen as beneficial for artistic, aesthetic, and public relations aspects. Despite not hosting a major tournament before, Turkey has successfully staged finals like the 2005 Champions League final, the 2009 UEFA Cup Final, the 2019 UEFA Super Cup Final, and the recent 2023 Champions League Final, all in Istanbul. Çolakoğlu also highlights the potential for the Italy-Turkey partnership to boost tourism in both countries.

Looking at the benefits for Turkish football, Çolakoğlu suggests that hosting EURO 2032 can provide a platform for discovering young talent and giving them national-level experience. He draws parallels with the success of Turkish volleyball, where a young generation rose to global prominence through consistent play and development. Özcan points to Morocco’s 2022 World Cup success as an example of strategic talent development, particularly in integrating diaspora players into the national team. She emphasizes that Turkey’s responsibility extends beyond providing infrastructure to delivering captivating football, urging a focus on national pride and performance.

TFF President Büyükekşi stated that hosting EURO 2032 demonstrates both nations’ passion for football and their commitment to international cooperation. He believes the combination of Turkey’s football history and Italy’s football heritage will create an exciting and memorable tournament for fans across Europe and the world. Turkey has previously bid to co-host EURO 2008 with Greece and bid solo for EURO 2012, EURO 2016, and EURO 2024.

EURO 2032 will be equally distributed between Italy and Turkey. The host cities are expected to be finalized by 2026, along with decisions on venues for qualifying draws, the final tournament draw, the opening match, and the final match.