UEFA’s Ceferin Says Türkiye Has Proved Major Finals Role as Istanbul Becomes Football Hub

By Bosphorus News Sports Desk

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said Türkiye has proved its ability to host major European football finals, placing Istanbul's football infrastructure and tournament record at the centre of UEFA's long-term planning.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Ceferin said Türkiye had already shown it can stage major events at the highest level after hosting three UEFA finals since 2019. He also described Istanbul as one of the continent's leading football cities.

"Istanbul is one of Europe's great football cities," Ceferin said.

His remarks come as Türkiye moves from occasional host to a more permanent operational base for European and global football bodies. UEFA opened an Istanbul office in April 2025 to support Türkiye's role in staging the 2026 UEFA Europa League final, the 2027 UEFA Conference League final and EURO 2032, which Türkiye will co-host with Italy.

At the office opening, Ceferin said Türkiye had shown "greater ambition and commitment" to becoming one of the world's leading hosts of global sport.

"Türkiye continues to demonstrate even greater ambition and commitment to prove itself as one of the world's leading hosts of global sport," Ceferin said, according to UEFA.

The office gave UEFA a local base in Istanbul as Türkiye prepares to deliver several high-profile tournaments in quick succession. UEFA said the Istanbul presence would strengthen ties with the Turkish Football Federation and local associations, while supporting the delivery of upcoming events.

Türkiye has built its hosting profile through a sequence of major finals. Istanbul staged the 2005 and 2023 UEFA Champions League finals, the 2009 UEFA Cup final and the 2019 UEFA Super Cup. Türkiye was also awarded the 2026 UEFA Europa League final at Beşiktaş Park and the 2027 UEFA Conference League final, with Ankara's new stadium considered as a possible venue if completed on time.

The institutional footprint is also widening beyond UEFA. Turkish Football Federation President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu said earlier this month that FIFA is preparing to open an office in Istanbul, following UEFA's move.

"The Turkish Football Federation is experiencing its strongest period in its history with FIFA and UEFA," Hacıosmanoğlu said.

Hacıosmanoğlu said the location had been determined and that the office would open "as soon as possible." He also said UEFA's Istanbul office would play a central role in coordinating the 2026 Europa League final, the 2027 Conference League final and EURO 2032.

Ceferin also used his Anadolu interview to point to the football side of Türkiye's rise, not only the hosting infrastructure. He said Turkish clubs need consistency in Europe and highlighted the importance of academies, coaching, refereeing, financial discipline and women's football. He described investment in youth as the best long-term bet.

That message matters because Türkiye's next football challenge is no longer only staging finals. The country is now trying to turn stadium capacity, institutional access and international tournament trust into sustained football influence.

Istanbul already has the venues, transport capacity and political backing UEFA wants from a major host city. With UEFA on the ground, FIFA preparing to follow and EURO 2032 on the horizon, Türkiye is being treated less as a one-off venue and more as a football operations hub between Europe, the Balkans, the Caucasus and the wider region.