Italy is facing what local media have called a “national embarrassment” and a “disaster.” UEFA has warned that the entire Euro 2032 football tournament could be moved to Turkey due to issues with Italian stadiums.

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has repeatedly criticized the country’s aging infrastructure, calling it a “disgrace” and stressing that “even countries like Albania have made more progress.”

The crisis deepened after Milan lost the right to host the 2027 Champions League final due to protracted renovation problems at San Siro. The €300 million renovation project stalled when local authorities blocked construction, citing the stadium’s cultural heritage status.

Italy and Turkey were jointly awarded the right to host Euro 2032 in 2023, to share the costs. Turkey already has five modern stadiums, while Italy has only one. Of the ten stadiums proposed by Italy, UEFA has approved only one, Juventus’ Allianz Stadium in Turin.

According to the rules, the final list of host cities must be submitted by October 2026, but construction deadlines are tight. Milan must start construction of its new stadium no later than March 2027 or face being removed from the list. Some clubs, such as Napoli, have promised to build new stadiums at their own expense, but Italian bureaucracy continues to be an obstacle.

Turkish media reports suggest that UEFA could hand the tournament entirely to Turkey, which already has 10 fully-equipped stadiums. Without rapid progress, the final, which was scheduled to be held in Milan or Rome, could be moved to Istanbul.