The Lombardy Regional Administrative Court (TAR) has dismissed every legal challenge against the Municipality of Milan's sale of the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza and surrounding land to FC Internazionale Milano and AC Milan, clearing a significant judicial hurdle for the clubs' plans to build a new stadium.
The ruling, issued on 6 October 2026, rejected five separate appeals filed over several years by residents, civic groups, and a local councillor. The decision allows the joint project to move forward toward a construction start in the second half of 2027.
Court dismisses procedural flaws
Four of the five appeals were declared inadmissible on procedural grounds. The court found that the coalition of appellants—ranging from environmental groups to citizen committees—lacked the homogeneous legal standing required for a collective challenge. The tribunal noted that the petitioners advanced a mix of personal, civic, and political objections that could not be treated as a single claim.
One appeal was rejected on its merits. The court ruled against a challenge brought by Enrico Fedrighini, a member of Milan City Council's mixed group, who had contested the council's handling of the vote authorizing the sale. Fedrighini argued that the council bypassed proper commission consultations and used a procedural mechanism—the so-called emendamento canguro—to discard 214 amendments during debate. The TAR found these arguments without grounds, affirming that the council operated within its rules.
Timeline points toward 2031 opening
With the legal obstacle removed, attention now turns to the next bureaucratic steps and the construction schedule:
• Rendering release: Final project designs are expected between late October and early November 2026.
• Groundbreaking: Construction is slated to begin in the second half of 2027.
• Completion: The new stadium is targeted to open by the end of 2031.
The essential deadline is UEFA Euro 2032, which Italy is scheduled to co-host. The new venue is intended to serve as a flagship stadium for the tournament's final rounds.
A new district called "La Cattedrale"
The proposed stadium, designed by architecture firm Populous alongside Italian engineering studios Tekne and Maffeis, is named La Cattedrale. Its design draws inspiration from Milan's Duomo and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, aiming for an architectural identity tied to the city's landmarks.
Plans call for 71,000 seats and surrounding green space integrated into a sports and entertainment district covering roughly nine hectares. The pitch level is designed to bring fans closer to the action, while a glass-walled concourse would house food and retail areas open year-round. Sustainability features include photovoltaic panels on the roof and rainwater collection systems.
The existing Meazza structure would be demolished in phases after the new stadium opens. Demolition is expected to generate approximately 225,000 tonnes of material.
What residents should expect
For local residents and match-goers, the ruling means the long-running dispute over the stadium's future has shifted from the courtroom to the construction site. Opponents retain the right to appeal the TAR's decision to the Council of State, Italy's highest administrative court, though no such filing had been announced as of the ruling's publication.
Milan's Deputy Mayor Anna Scavuzzo welcomed the ruling, stating that the city council had followed proper procedure. Senator Ivan Scalfarotto of Italia Viva also expressed satisfaction, urging all parties to set aside disagreements so work can begin.
The project still requires completion of environmental impact assessments (Valutazione Ambientale Strategica and Valutazione di Impatto Ambientale) before shovels enter the ground. Those certifications are due within 560 days of the plan's March 2026 filing.
