This morning, a delegation from the Municipality of Palermo and Palermo FC, together with the designers from Populous, was received on an official visit in Nyon, Switzerland, at UEFA headquarters, to present to the leadership of European football’s governing body the progress made in the process that will see Palermo and the Barbera Stadium among the candidates to host UEFA EURO 2032.
At the center of the discussions were the shared ideas of the working group regarding the comprehensive redevelopment of the new stadium, with a focus on the more than 200 requirements that must be met in order to host high-level international competitions. These include the new structure and related services—modern and functional—as well as sustainability, urban regeneration, and the project timeline. This marks a further step forward in the process that will lead to joint work on the final design and the formal submission of the bid by July 2026.
The Mayor of Palermo expressed great satisfaction with the meeting: “I would like to emphasize the extremely positive and constructive atmosphere that characterized our discussions with UEFA, from which we noted a strong willingness and genuine interest in the project presented. This was not merely an opportunity to showcase a stadium redevelopment plan, but to share a broader vision for the city’s development in the coming years, which was received with attention and appreciation. Palermo is now a city enjoying increasing international visibility, as also confirmed by the latest tourism data, with over 2 million arrivals recorded in 2025. This result demonstrates the vitality and attractiveness of our territory and strengthens the credibility of our bid. I would also like to reiterate the strong and productive collaboration between the Municipality and Palermo FC, who are working together with determination on the redevelopment project of the Renzo Barbera Stadium. We are talking about a fundamental asset for the city, for its sporting identity, and for the many fans who experience it every week. This shared path represents one of the strongest foundations on which to build Palermo’s future, also in view of such a prestigious international event”.
“The appreciation received from UEFA for the shared path that the entire working group is pursuing with commitment and dedication is a further step toward achieving a common goal for the whole city. A unique opportunity that can truly change the life of an entire community, well beyond sporting passion”, added Palermo FC CEO Giovanni Gardini.