After experiencing four unsuccessful attempts in the recent past, Turkey is on the verge of being granted the privilege of hosting a major international football tournament.
UEFA is set to announce the location for Euro 2032 this week, and it appears that Turkey will finally achieve its long-standing dream, despite grappling with a severe economic crisis, with an annual inflation rate nearing 60 percent.
On Tuesday, UEFA’s executive committee will convene to reveal the hosts for both the 2028 and 2032 European Championships.
Turkey chose to withdraw its bid for the 2028 event to concentrate all efforts on a joint proposal with Italy for the tournament four years later. Remarkably, this bid currently faces no competition.
It’s worth noting that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has a genuine passion for Turkey’s most popular sport.
In his earlier years, he played semi-professionally and remains an ardent supporter of Fenerbahce, one of the country’s prominent football clubs.
Securing the hosting rights for Europe’s premier sporting event would undoubtedly mark a pinnacle in his tenure, and it holds significant political symbolism.
Daghan Irak, a lecturer in media communication at the University of Huddersfield in England, emphasizes that sport has historically served as a means for Turkey to establish its legitimacy and compete on equal footing with the Western world. Erdogan has adhered to this strategic approach throughout his time in power.
Erdogan assumed the role of prime minister at the end of 2002, coinciding with Turkey’s failed joint bid with Greece to host Euro 2008. UEFA awarded that tournament to Austria and Switzerland.
Subsequently, Turkey pursued solo bids for Euro 2012, which was awarded to a joint Ukraine-Poland candidacy, and Euro 2016, ultimately hosted by France.
Human rights concerns have also cast a shadow over Turkey’s previous bids. Notably, they lost to Germany for Euro 2024 due to concerns regarding their human rights policies.
Despite these hurdles, the absence of rival contenders now ensures Turkey’s opportunity to host the tournament.
However, lingering human rights concerns persist, especially after Erdogan’s re-election as President in May.
He has not exhibited leniency or announced amnesty for tens of thousands of political opponents who remain imprisoned.
Recent actions, such as upholding a life sentence for Osman Kavala, a benefactor and philanthropist accused of financing anti-government protests in 2013, continue to impact Turkey’s standing with the European Union.
Past concerns about the state of stadiums in Turkey have also contributed to failed bids. Nonetheless, this issue has been largely resolved, according to Bagis Erten, a sports communication instructor at Kadir Has University in Istanbul.
Erten asserts that Turkey has made significant strides in stadium infrastructure, particularly in cities like Trabzon, Konya, Eskisehir, and Izmir, boasting well-prepared venues.
In June, Turkey successfully hosted the UEFA Champions League final, further demonstrating its readiness for major sporting events.
Erten believes that Turkey, both economically and in terms of security and footballing culture, is well-suited to host the Euro.
In the broader context of European integration, hosting an international football tournament may prove more feasible for Erdogan’s Turkey than adhering to the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights.
