Gravina
Gabriele Gravina president of the FIGC attends Rieti Sport Festival in Rieti, Italy on 10 September 2020, Rieti. The Rieti Sport Festival begins, an event organized every year in the city of Rieti, which rewards the best national and international sportsmen, with reviews and interviews by the Sky journalist, Stefano Meloccaro. This year with a special edition, due to Coronavirus. (Photo by Riccardo Fabi/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Gravina Announces Italian FA Plans to Run to Host Euro 2028

Gabriele Gravina, the president of the Italian Football Association, put forward the candidacy for Euro 2028. “The process started a few days ago, and we are very interested. Our country needs a major event to cap off this run. We have not had one in many years. I hope the government shares our intention and will provide us with concrete help to make stadiums more modern and build new ones as well. I want my cycle to end with this achievement.” 

Gravina’s second term will conclude in 2024, and he will be in charge for the entire selection process. Italy hosted the Euro twice in 1968 and 1990. The last international tournament assigned to them was the 1990 World Cup. A few matches of last summer’s traveling competition took place in Rome.

Gravina talked during a sports festival in Trento, as Calcio e Finanza transcribed: “We have to realize how important it is to invest in key assets like infrastructures. Unfortunately, we need a big event to incentivize it. It is a defeat from the planning standpoint. However, if that is what it takes, then I will do it.”

UEFA and CONMEMBOL recently confirmed the rumored clash between the European and the South American champions. They did not set a date or the location, though. Gravina weighed in: “I am convinced that the match between Italy and Argentina will eventually happen. It would be romantic if they played in Naples, although other cities are in the running. This cup will be a staple in the future.”