Udine will not be among the host cities for the UEFA Euro 2032 tournament, according to a report from UdineToday. The outlet said the list of candidate venues includes 13 cities and 16 stadiums, with Udine absent from the selection.
The report follows an announcement that Italy has put forward 16 stadiums for consideration, as detailed by Il Sole 24 ORE. That list includes three stadiums in Rome and two in Naples, with the remaining venues spread across other Italian cities. The final five host stadiums are expected to be chosen in October, according to Corriere della Sera.
The selection process has drawn widespread interest, with la Repubblica describing it as a competitive race in which many cities are vying for a limited number of slots. The newspaper noted that only five stadiums will ultimately be selected, leaving most candidates disappointed.
Italian sports minister Andrea Abodi said that 4.5 billion euros have been invested in stadium infrastructure as part of the push to modernize venues ahead of the tournament, Corriere della Sera reported. The investment is intended to support the country's bid to host matches in 2032.
In a separate development, the mayor of Bari has expressed willingness to host Euro 2032 matches, according to ANSA. The mayor's statement to the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) signals that Bari remains keen to be part of the final selection.
The candidate list is not final, and further adjustments could occur before the October decision. For Udine, the exclusion means the city will not be part of the tournament's infrastructure plans, though the reasoning behind the decision was not detailed in the reports.
What to watch next: The October announcement of the five chosen stadiums will determine which cities ultimately secure hosting rights for Euro 2032.
