AS Roma’s new stadium project gets green light from city, paving the way for construction to begin ahead of Euro 2032.
Rome’s city council on Friday approved plans by Serie A football club AS Roma to build a new billion-euro stadium in the eastern Pietralata district of the Italian capital.
The majority vote was passed by 39 councillors in favour, five abstentions, and none against, in a move hailed by the city’s mayor Roberto Gualtieri as “a historic day not only for the fans but for the people of Rome”.
The decision confirms the public interest in the project, with Gualtieri telling reporters that he hoped the first stone of the stadium could be laid in early 2027.
The project now moves to the final technical phase, a regional authorisation procedure which includes an environmental impact assessment and is expected to take a few months.
New stadium
The proposed facility, located near Tiburtina station, is set to become Roma’s permanent home after having shared the 72,000-seater Stadio Olimpico with local rivals SS Lazio since 1953.
Designed by Populous, an international architectural studio specialising in sports facilities, the stadium will have a total capacity of more than 62,000 seats.
Next to the stadium there will be “a public park larger than Villa Celimontana, built and then entirely maintained by AS Roma, but open to all” – Gualtieri told reporters – “Basically a new villa in Rome at zero cost for the citizens. We are very satisfied”.
Gualtieri stressed that project will be funded by AS Roma, not the city, paying tribute to the the club’s president Dan Friedkin “for the investment that brings a new sporting institution to our city without burdening public finances.”
Euro 2032
A primary driver for the approval is Italy’s commitment to hosting the UEFA Euro 2032 championships, with Gualtieri highlighting “a constant and positive dialogue” between the city council and the government.
Italy and Türkiye will jointly host the major sporting event, scheduled between June and July 2032.
Both nations have proposed 20 stadiums of which 10 will be chosen to stage matches – five per country – to be selected by European soccer governing body UEFA in October.
