A Hypothetical Balkan Euro: Football Unites Southeast Europe

Imagine a European football championship hosted across six Balkan countries—Greece, Croatia, Serbia, Albania, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria. This hypothetical tournament would not only bring world-class football to one of Europe’s most passionate regions but also symbolize unity and cooperation in a historically complex yet culturally rich corner of the continent.

The Concept: Euro Balkan 2036

The “Euro Balkan” championship would showcase the beauty of football across borders. With shared hosting duties, the tournament would highlight the diverse stadiums, fan cultures, cities, and landscapes of the region. From the Adriatic shores of Croatia to the ancient ruins of Athens, the Balkans offer a mix of history, football passion, and potential for an unforgettable international event.

Host Countries and Key Cities

Here’s how the tournament could be organized across the six host nations:

🇬🇷 Greece

Stadium: Olympic Stadium (Athens), New Toumba Stadium (Thessaloniki)
Why Greece? As one of the more developed football nations in the region and a former European champion (Euro 2004), Greece brings prestige and strong infrastructure.

🇭🇷 Croatia

Stadium: New Stadion Maksimir (Zagreb), Poljud Stadium (Split)
Why Croatia? With a World Cup final appearance in 2018 and a passionate fanbase, Croatia is one of the football powerhouses of the Balkans.

🇷🇸 Serbia

Stadium: National Stadium (Belgrade), New Stadion Karađorđe (Novi Sad)
Why Serbia? A country with deep football traditions and historic rivalries, Serbia’s inclusion adds excitement and energy to the event.

🇦🇱 Albania

Stadium: Air Albania Stadium (Tirana), Flamurtari New Stadium (Vlora)
Why Albania? A rising football nation with a modern national stadium and growing fan culture, Albania provides a fresh and passionate atmosphere.

🇲🇰 North Macedonia

Stadium: Toše Proeski Arena (Skopje)
Why North Macedonia? With recent appearances in major tournaments, North Macedonia represents the underdog spirit of Balkan football.

🇧🇬 Bulgaria

Stadium: CSKA Sofia New Stadium (Sofia), Vasil Levski Stadium Renovation (Sofia)
Why Bulgaria? A country with a rich football past and infrastructure potential, Bulgaria rounds out the group with a central location and strong history.

The Format: A Tournament of Unity

Teams: 24 European nations
Groups: 6 groups across 6 countries
Knockout Stages: Hosted in rotating cities, with the final held in Athens or Belgrade
Fan Zones: Set up in major squares and coastlines from Tirana to Thessaloniki

The idea is not just to spread the matches across borders but to celebrate unity in diversity. Joint hosting allows smaller nations to be part of the global spotlight while minimizing the financial and logistical burden on a single country.

Challenges and Opportunities

Challenges

Political tensions: The region has a complex history of rivalries and conflicts.
Infrastructure gaps: Some countries would require upgrades in stadiums and transport.
Coordination: Multinational hosting demands unprecedented cooperation.

Opportunities

Tourism boost: Promotes the Balkans as a top European travel destination.
Football diplomacy: A chance to build bridges through sport.
Investment in youth: Encourages development of grassroots football.

A Dream Worth Chasing?

While purely hypothetical for now, the idea of a Euro Balkan tournament isn’t impossible. Football has often been a force for unity—healing wounds, building connections, and creating shared memories. In a region filled with passion, talent, and history, the time might come for the Balkans to host Europe’s biggest football celebration together.