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Russia signals intent to host Euro 2032 amid ongoing UEFA ban
Russia is pushing to host the UEFA Euro 2032 tournament, despite its continued exclusion from international football due to sanctions imposed following its military actions in Ukraine. The Russian Football Union (RFU) president, Alexander Dyukov, recently announced the country’s readiness to step in if Italy fails to resolve its stadium infrastructure challenges.
Italy and Turkey were jointly awarded hosting rights for Euro 2032 in October 2023. However, Italy has struggled to meet UEFA’s rigorous stadium requirements. By July 31, 2026, all host nations must present five approved venues conforming to UEFA’s standards. Currently, only two Italian stadiums, Turin’s Allianz Stadium and Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, fully meet these criteria.
Several other Italian venues, including Milan’s San Siro, Florence’s Artemio Franchi, and Genoa’s Luigi Ferraris, have been flagged for being outdated or undergoing renovations. Inspections conducted in August 2025 revealed that just one out of Italy's ten proposed stadiums was UEFA-compliant. Naples’ Stadio Diego Armando Maradona and the existing San Siro failed inspections due to structural deficiencies.
To address these setbacks, AC Milan and Inter Milan have jointly acquired the San Siro site for €197 million, planning to replace the current structure with a new €1.2 billion stadium. Construction is set to begin in 2026, with completion expected by 2035. Meanwhile, Rome is advancing plans for a new stadium in the Pietralata district for AS Roma, though the project still requires government approvals and funding. If finalized, the stadium could be operational by 2029 or 2030.
Russia’s renewed bid for UEFA’s flagship tournament has sparked controversy, given its ongoing ban and the geopolitical tensions surrounding the country. UEFA has yet to formally respond to Dyukov’s comments, while Italy continues its efforts to meet hosting commitments.