Palermo FC make ambitious UEFA Euro 2032 bid in conjunction with stadium redevelopment

Supporters of Palermo FC during the Serie B match between Palermo FC and US Catanzaro at the Stadio ''Renzo Barbera'' in Palermo, Italy, on May 1, 2026. (Photo by Gabriele Maricchiolo/NurPhoto)
Stadio Renzo Barbera is the home of Palermo FC and their enthusiastic supporters (Image credit: Getty Images)

At the heart of Palermo's submission to the FIGC is a full redevelopment plan for the historic Stadio Renzo Barbera.

Designed in partnership with world-renowned sports architecture practice Populous and consultancy firm Turner & Townsend, the project aims to transform the stadium into a modern, sustainable urban landmark.

The vision extends beyond matchday infrastructure, intending to create a year-round community hub for social interaction, entertainment, work, and economic growth while keeping supporter experience central to the design.

Palermo bid to host UEFA Euro 2032

Palermo welcomed Manchester City for a friendly at the beginning of the 2025/26 season

Palermo welcomed Manchester City for a friendly at the beginning of the 2025/26 season (Image credit: Palermo FC)

Palermo were initially viewed as an underdog compared to other candidate cities across Italy, but the club has quickly assembled one of the most credible proposals on the table.

This progress has been fuelled by collaboration between Palermo FC, the Municipality of Palermo, the Sicilian Regional Government, and owner City Football Group (CFG).

Palermo walk out onto the pitch at Stadio Renzo Barbera

Palermo walk out onto the pitch at Stadio Renzo Barbera (Image credit: Palermo FC/Tullio Puglia)

For CFG, the bid represents another step in its long-term investment strategy for the club and region, following the recent opening of Palermo's new state-of-the-art training centre.

The submission has already gathered praise from national footballing authorities and UEFA representatives for its clear vision, sustainability commitments, and delivery pace.

With Italy and Turkey co-hosting the tournament in 2032, the FIGC must narrow its host list down to five Italian cities. If chosen, a modernised Renzo Barbera will bring elite international football back to Sicily for the first time since the 1990 World Cup.

In addition to Palermo, the other 12 Italian cities putting forward bids to host Euro 2032 matches are: Rome, Milan, Turin, Naples, Florence, Bari, Bologna, Cagliari, Genoa, Lecce, Salerno and Verona.

Out of these 13 candidate cities, the FIGC will put forward five to host matches at the tournament in six years' time.

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Joe Donnohue
Senior Digital Writer

Joe joined FourFourTwo as senior digital writer in July 2025 after five years covering Leeds United in the Championship and Premier League. Joe's 'Mastermind' specialist subject is 2000s-era Newcastle United having had a season ticket at St. James' Park for 10 years before relocating to Leeds and later London. Joe takes a keen interest in youth football, covering PL2, U21 Euros, as well as U20 and U17 World Cups in the past, in addition to hosting the industry-leading football recruitment-focused SCOUTED podcast. He is also one of the lucky few to have 'hit top bins' as a contestant on Soccer AM. It wasn't a shin-roller.

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