The official bid for the city of Palermo to host UEFA EURO 2032 has today been formally submitted to the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). This marks a significant milestone in the city’s ambition to become one of the five Italian host cities selected for Europe’s premier international football tournament.
At the heart of the bid is the vision developed by Palermo FC, together with the international architecture practice Populous, in collaboration with Turner & Townsend, for the redevelopment of the Renzo Barbera Stadium. The project goes far beyond the refurbishment of a football venue: it represents a new urban landmark — modern, sustainable and community-focused — designed with supporters at the centre of the experience, while creating a year-round destination for social interaction, entertainment, work and economic development.
The submission of the bid represents the culmination of an extraordinary journey that, in just a few months, has become a genuine case study within the international sports industry. Starting from a position of disadvantage compared to other Italian candidate cities, Palermo has succeeded in building one of the strongest and most credible bids thanks to the quality of its vision, the pace of delivery and the ability of all stakeholders to work together towards a common goal. A journey that has already attracted the attention and appreciation of Italy’s leading football institutions, as well as UEFA itself.
This achievement is further evidence of City Football Group‘slong-term commitment to the Palermo project. Following the construction of the club’s new training center and the steadily increasing investment in Palermo FC, this initiative opens the prospect of a long-term commitment that will benefit the entire city.
The project has been made possible through the work of architects, engineers, managers and specialist consultants, developed in close collaboration with the Municipality of Palermo, the Sicilian Regional Government, the Italian Government, FIGC and UEFA, and supported by leading financial institutions including Intesa Sanpaolo, BPER Banca, Banca del Fucino, and the Italian Institute for Sports Credit.
While awaiting the formal text of the resolution adopted by the City Council, the submission of the bid simultaneously marks the conclusion of an initial phase and the beginning of a new one. The process will now continue through the subsequent evaluation stages conducted by FIGC and UEFA, leading to the final selection of the five Italian host cities.
Palermo enters this next phase with ambition, responsibility and a clear vision: to make the new Renzo Barbera Stadium not only the modern home of Palermo FC, but also a transformative piece of infrastructure capable of shaping the future of the city and leaving a lasting legacy for its community, well beyond UEFA EURO 2032.