The Stadiums of Italia 90: The Grounds that Shaped a Summer to Remember

The 1990 World Cup was the last international tournament Italy hosted, and while it didn’t quite go to plan for the hosts, the legacy of the tournament forever altered the very fabric of the game.

The nation was, at the time, the very epicentre of the footballing world: all the best players and the best teams could be found in Italy. AC Milan had just retained the European Cup; Juventus had won the UEFA Cup and Sampdoria secured the Cup Winners’ Cup, meaning a clean sweep of European honours.

To top it all off, stadiums around the country were getting a new lick of paint or, in the case of stadiums in Turin and Bari, two brand-new arenas. 

The legacy of Italia 90’s stadiums is a complex issue: the state went massively over budget, with many stations built for the tournament either barely used or never actually completed and left to ruin. Some of the stadiums didn’t last the test of time, with one already demolished and another a crumbling wreck. Italy only finished paying off the debt from the tournament as recently as 2017, some 27 years after it wrapped up. 

Today, many of the stadiums are still in use – some with nods to that summer 36 years ago. Here we take a look at the 12 and what they looked then, and now.

San Siro – Milan

In truth, the San Siro hasn’t changed all that much since Italia 90. The third tier was added for the tournament, bringing the capacity to 85,000 to the tune of some £45m. 

The renovation work was carried out between 1987 and 1990. The direct result of adding the third tier caused ripple effects for decades, as the lack of sunlight meant the pitch becoming a mud-fest by the turn of winter. This meant both clubs relaying the pitch several times per-year at significant cost.

The stadium opened the tournament, as Argentina and Diego Maradona suffered a surprise defeat to Cameroon thanks to a goal from Francois Omam-Biyik. Surprisingly, despite its size – it never hosted a match beyond the quarter-final stage.

The stadium is, sadly, on its final legs, with both AC Milan and Inter looking to build a new home ahead of Euro 2032. Time is running out to visit one of the true cathedrals of world football, and you can check out our guides on how to buy tickets here.

Most memorable game hosted at Italia 90: Has to be West Germany’s 2-1 win over The Netherlands, a game infamous for Frank Rijkaard’s clash with Rudi Voller in the round of 16.

Stadio Delle Alpi – Turin

One of two new arenas constructed for Italia 90, the Stadio delle Alpi was built on the outskirts of Turin to the tune of a whopping €65m (around €200m in today’s currency) and was home to all of Brazil’s matches during the competition.

Built with a capacity of 70,000, the stadium wasn’t a disaster, but was underwhelming to say the least. Plagued from the start by poor visibility lines owing to the athletics track, the stadium didn’t record a single sell-out until the 2003 Champions League semi-final between Juventus and Real Madrid.

What remains of the stadium now? Nothing. As early as 1994 Juve were exploring other options, by 2002 the Turin city council sold the stadium to the Bianconeri for €24m, the last game played in the stadium was in 2006, and Juve built a brand new arena on the site of the demolished Delle Alpi in 2011.

The stadium’s history lasted a mere 16 years.

Most memorable game hosted at Italia 90: The titanic semi-final between West Germany and England, the game that made Three Lions fans fall in love with Paul Gascoigne, and football once again. 

Stadio Luigi Ferraris – Genoa

The Marassi, as it’s known colloquially, was completely renovated ahead of Italia 90, being dismantled and rebuilt sector-by-sector over the course of two years by architect Vittorio Gregotti. 

The stadium was built to resemble an English-style ground, and was thankfully spared an athletics track. The capacity was around 40,000, but over time that has been reduced to around 36,000. 

The Luigi Ferraris has ostensibly remained unchanged since the competition ended, minus one or two slight tweaks. Both Sampdoria and Genoa are preparing to renovate it ahead of a potential nomination for Euro 2032. 

The stadium has seen better days, but it remains one of the best grounds in the country with tremendous views no matter where you sit.

Most memorable game hosted at Italia 90: Ireland’s triumph over Romania on penalties in the round of 16. 

Stadio Fruili – Udine

Only opened in 1976, the Stadio Friuli cost the least to renovate ahead of the 1990 summer, with only minor improvements such as parking spaces, a new press room, lighting system and seats made for the tournament.

Today, the ground looks very different, with major reconstruction work taking places in the middle of the 2010s, with each section upgraded and covered with a roof.

The only original part of the stadium from Italia ’90 still visible is the iconic arch that covers the grandstand.

Most memorable game hosted at Italia 90: The stadium hosted three games, with Spain’s 3-1 win against South Korea the highlight thanks to a hat-trick from striker Michel.

Stadio Bentegodi – Verona

The Stadio Bentegodi in Verona remains perhaps the most Italia 90 stadium still in existence. This is in part because the ground hasn’t been touched since and stickers from the competition can still be seen around the ground. A time capsule if ever there was one.

Renovated ahead of the tournament, the Bentegodi was given covered stands across the stadium and a fresh coat of paint. 

Today, the stadium feels dated and in need of some care and attention. The athletics track has fallen into disrepair and has long since been abandoned. Plans have been afoot for years to either renovate the stadium again or build an entirely new one for tenants Hellas Verona, but any decision has never been formalised.

Most memorable game hosted at Italia 90: Yugoslavia’s 2-1 win over Spain in the round of 16 thanks to a pair of Dragan Stojkovic goals.

Stadio Renato Dall’Ara – Bologna

Built in 1927, the Dall’Ara was renovated entirely for the tournament, with a new roof for the main stand, more seats added and a makeover.

The stadium has stood the test of time better than most grounds in Italy and remains in operation today. It has received moderate updates down the decades and there was discussions of renovating it completely ahead of a potential nomination for Euro 2032, however the plans were shelved due to the rising cost of construction post-pandemic.

The Dall’Ara is one of the best grounds in Italy to watch a game, and make sure to check out our guide on how to get to the ground.

Most memorable game hosted at Italia 90: England’s last-minute winner against Belgium in the round of 16, thanks to David Platt’s superb swivel-and-volley in the 119th minute.

Stadio Comunale – Florence

The stadium is better known today as the Stadio Artemio Franchi, but was called the Stadio Comunale at the time of the tournament. 

It underwent extensive construction work ahead of Italia 90, which consisted of taking away the running track to install more seats and revamping the general Campo di Marte area. The cost of the works came to a colossal €76m in today’s money.

The stadium remained as was for most of the past three decades, but the city of Florence is now renovating the Franchi – renamed in 1991 after former UEFA president and Fiorentina secretary Artemio Franchi – in view of potentially hosting games at Euro 2032.

Most memorable game hosted at Italia 90: Argentina’s 0-0 draw with Yugoslavia in the quarter-final that went to penalties, which included a rare Diego Maradona miss from 12 yards. Argentina won the shootout 3-2 to set up a semi-final clash with hosts Italy in Naples.

Stadio Olimpico – Rome

Redesigned completely ahead of the finals, the Stadio Olimpico was the setting for five of Italy’s seven games, in addition to the final.

Renovated at a supposed cost of £20m – with reports suggesting it cost roughly 10 times that when all was said and done – the Olimpico has remained largely similar in the 36 years since, though hospitality and VIP spaces were installed ahead of hosting the 2009 Champions League final.

Used by Roma and Lazio, the Olimpico’s future remains a doubt, with both clubs looking to move away from the stadium to build their own grounds in an effort to modernise.

The setting for Roberto Baggio’s moment of brilliance against Czechoslovakia and Diego Maradona mouthing foul-language down the camera seconds before the final kicked off, the Olimpico has been used for Six Nations rugby, which could be it’s primary function should Roma and Lazio leave in the coming years.

Most memorable game hosted at Italia 90: Purely because of the goal, it has to be Italy vs Czechoslovakia in the group stage, with Baggio showing the world what Juventus were getting after smashing the world transfer record to sign the 23-year-old on the eve of the finals.

Stadio San Paolo – Naples

The San Paolo, as it was called during the tournament, is another that’s almost a time capsule to Italia 90. 

The scene for Argentina’s semi-final victory over Italy – with Diego Maradona in the thick of the drama – and England’s 3-2 win over Cameroon in the quarter-final, the San Paolo has remained more or less the same.

The most major improvements were made ahead of hosting the 2019 summer Universiade, with seats replaced, resurfacing of the athletics track, the installation of two giants screens and redesigning the changing rooms.

The outer shell of the stadium, with it’s metallic look, feels like a throwback to a bygone era. Now named the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona after the Napoli legend’s death in 2020, the Maradona is one of the most atmospheric grounds in the country and you can read our guide on how to feel that electricity for yourself.

Most memorable game hosted at Italia 90: The epic semi-final between Italy and Argentina, a game completely dominated by Maradona’s antics off the pitch preceding the game. Argentina won on penalties, with Maradona scoring the last, to silence the home fans. 

Stadio San Nicola – Bari

Perhaps the first case of a white elephant stadium in football? The San Nicola was the second ground built entirely for Italia 90, and still to this day remains the most head-scratching.

Built in the middle of nowhere on the outskirts of Bari and designed by famed architect Renzo Piano, the San Nicola is an arena far too big for a club of Bari’s stature, with the capacity at a mammoth 58,000 seats. It’s the third-largest stadium in the country.

The ground, designed to look like a spaceship crash landed in Puglia, hosted five games at Italia 90, and was the scene of Roger Milla’s comeback with Cameroon at the age of 38. 

The stadium has largely remained untouched and has seen better days, with the lack of regular maintenance showing. It took Bari 24 years to finally sell-out the stadium for a single game. If you want to explore the cavernous San Nicola one day, check out our in-depth guide on how to get there.

Most memorable game hosted at Italia 90: The third-place playoff between Italy and England, with David Platt scoring for the Three Lions on a ground he’d soon call home.

Stadio Sant’Elia – Cagliari

The backdrop for England’s group stage games at the tournament, the Sant’Elia in Cagliari makes for the most depressing entry in the list.

Renovated ahead of Italia 90, the stadium went 40 per cent over budget and the capacity increased to around 40,000 seats. 

Lack of maintenance throughout the rest of the 1990s and into the 2000s meant the ground quickly became a public safety concern, and Cagliari moved out of the stadium entirely by 2017, building a temporary structure beside the crumbling Sant’Elia, where they remain to this day.

The ground’s current state is one of absolute abandonment and is due to be demolished once the green light is finally given for Cagliari to build a new modern arena on the site of the old Sant’Elia.

Most memorable game hosted at Italia 90: England and Ireland’s turgid game in the Group F opener, a 1-1 draw memorable for some of the friendly scenes between supporters beforehand and the cheeky headline in one of the local Italian papers: “No football please, we’re British.”

Stadio La Favorita – Palermo

Palermo’s ground shared hosting duty with the Sant’Elia for Group F, yet the stadium very nearly didn’t make it as due to a lack of funds. Renovation works didn’t commence until very late in the day and there was concern the stadium wouldn’t be ready in time.

The redesign did indeed go forward and the Favorita’s capacity was reduced to around 37,000 seats, which is what it remains more or less to this day.

Like so many of the stadiums used at Italia 90, little has changed, with the biggest one being the name of the stadium. It was renamed after Renzo Barbera in 2002 in honour of the late president, who ran the club from 1970 to 1980.

Palermo are, like many, hoping to modernise their stadium ahead of potential hosting duty at Euro 2032.

Most memorable game hosted at Italia 90: Ireland’s 1-1 draw with The Netherlands, which included a brilliant goal from AC Milan hero Ruud Gullit.