The iconic San Siro Stadium, home to both AC Milan and Inter Milan, is at risk of being excluded from the list of venues set to host matches in the UEFA Euro 2032 tournament, scheduled to be co-hosted by Italy and Turkey.
UEFA recently selected the two countries to jointly organize the tournament, but reports suggest that San Siro currently fails to meet the European football body’s strict requirements for hosting international fixtures.
Emergency Meeting to Discuss the Stadium’s Future
According to Sky Sports Italy, an emergency meeting was held last Friday at Milan City Hall, bringing together officials from both Milan and Inter, Milan’s Mayor Giuseppe Sala, and representatives from UEFA and the Italian Football Federation. The meeting addressed both urban planning issues and the technical status of San Siro.
At present, Allianz Stadium in Turin, home of Juventus, is the only venue in Italy that fully complies with UEFA’s infrastructure and safety regulations. The deadline for submitting the five proposed Italian stadiums for Euro 2032 is set for October 2026.
Technical Concerns and Tight Deadlines
Sky Sports highlighted that, based on current structural assessments and the timeframe required for redevelopment, San Siro does not meet the criteria needed for UEFA approval. The stadium’s outdated facilities and lack of necessary upgrades pose significant challenges.
A Symbolic and Economic Blow
The potential exclusion of San Siro would deal a major blow to one of the world’s most historic football landmarks. Spanish newspaper AS described the situation as a “painful slap” to a symbol of global football heritage—one that could also affect the stadium’s economic value and international relevance.
Meanwhile, AC Milan and Inter are reportedly close to securing a deal with the Italian government to purchase the land on which the stadium sits, paving the way for a complete reconstruction.
Under their proposed plan, only the second tier of the current stadium would be preserved. Most of the existing structure would be demolished and rebuilt to meet modern football standards. However, the project is still in its early phases, with land acquisition estimated at €197 million. Italian law currently prohibits the demolition of San Siro before 2030.
Years of Delays and Reversals
In 2023, both clubs rejected proposals to renovate San Siro and instead pursued separate plans to build new stadiums in the areas of Rozzano and San Donato. By September 2024, however, the clubs proposed using San Siro temporarily while construction on their respective venues proceeds.
In response to the uncertainty, UEFA decided to withdraw Milan’s hosting rights for the 2027 Champions League Final, criticizing the clubs’ decision to forgo renovation efforts.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin previously stated:
“San Siro is a great stadium, but it’s old and in need of major improvements.”
