FIGC President Gabriele Gravina confirms Italy will present their candidacy to host the 2028 or 2032 European Championship, which could finally spark action to reconstruct stadiums.
He had previously hinted there would be a bid to run Euro 2028 or the 2030 World Cup, the latter perhaps in conjunction with another nation such as Saudi Arabia.
However, this is a smaller prospect and one that would give the country more time to resolve their stadium crisis.
“The decisive step for the 2028 Euros is in March and we will present our candidacy before the UEFA Executive committee on March 20, which is also open for 2032,” said Gravina during a press conference.
“We will evaluate one of the two options. We’ll do it in serious fashion, because there is great desire for renewal of infrastructures, for example in Florence, Cagliari, Bologna and Bari.”
These are all projects that have been in limbo for many years due to the extreme red tape of Italian regional politics.
Florence is one of the clearest situations, where Fiorentina President Rocco Commisso repeatedly railed in American media at the refusal of politicians to let him invest in building a new arena or even reconstructing the existing Stadio Artemio Franchi.
Most of the stadiums used in Serie A were last given an overhaul when Italy hosted the 1990 World Cup.
It is hoped the deadlines and funding of hosting another tournament such as the Euros in 2028 or 2032 will finally unblock some of these channels and allow for work to begin.
Roma are another club who for over a decade have been frustrated by their plans to build a stadium in the city away from the Stadio Olimpico, which they share with Lazio and the Italy rugby team.