Euro 2032: Napoli at risk if council and club fail to unite | OneFootball

The Minister for Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodi, sends a clear message: to host Euro 2032, prestige or football history alone will not be enough; what’s needed are planning, synergy between institutions and clubs, and above all, clear deadlines.

Euro 2032, Abodi warns: “Race among 11 cities. Naples risks exclusion if City and Club don’t cooperate”

In an interview with Il Mattino, the minister spoke extensively about the situation of stadiums in Italy, focusing on the case of Naples and the candidacy of the Maradona stadium among the tournament’s host venues.

Abodi: “Euro 2032 is an opportunity to break years of stagnation on stadiums” The minister explained the strategic role that will be played by the commissioner’s structure provided for by the decree approved by Parliament, which will also include mayors as deputy commissioners, to simplify and speed up the administrative procedures related to the redevelopment of facilities.

“In Italy, major events are needed to overcome deadlock. Euro 2032 represents a great opportunity, and the extraordinary commissioner will be an essential tool to support the clubs as well, which are ready to invest over 3 billion but need clear deadlines and rules.”

Funding and economic instruments: what the decree provides When asked about incentives for those who will invest in stadiums, Abodi clarified that there will be no non-repayable grants, but rather an integrated package of financial instruments, including:

Equity fund;

Public guarantees;

Interest subsidies;

Direct involvement of the Institute for Sports and Cultural Credit.

In addition, the creation of the Italian Sports Fund, managed by the ICSC, is planned, which will become one of the pillars of the financial plan.

Naples at risk of exclusion? “It’s a competition, those who are ready will win” Operationally, the process for selecting the five Italian cities that will host Euro 2032 is already mapped out:

By September 2025: Municipalities must formally communicate their interest to the FIGC;

July 2026: verification of projects and administrative procedures;

October 2026: the FIGC will indicate the five chosen cities to UEFA;

May 2027: construction sites for the selected stadiums must open.

Currently, there are 11 candidate cities, but only five will have the opportunity to host the European Championship. Some, such as Rome and Turin, are already clearly ahead. The others – including Naples – will have to prove they are ready within the established deadlines.

“In the end, the cities that will prevail are those able to face the challenge with efficiency and vision. This means collaboration between the City and the Club, without delays.”

The warning for Naples: “There must be convergence between City and Club, immediately” In Naples, the situation remains delicate. The differences between the city administration and SSC Napoli over the management of the Maradona stadium are well known, and Abodi did not hide his concern:

“I fully respect both the City and the club, but it is essential that they find real harmony as soon as possible. Time is limited and there will be no exceptions. If immediate operational agreement is not reached, Naples seriously risks exclusion.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.