In Italy in 2023, Football Generates Over 11 Billion Euros in GDP

The Impact of Football on the Italian Economy

While all eyes are on Paris for the Olympics, the world of sports, particularly football, continues to thrive in Italy.
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) recently presented the latest edition of the ReportCalcio, developed by the FIGC Study Center in collaboration with AREL and PwC Italy.
This report includes a significant study on the direct, indirect, and induced socio-economic impact of Italian football.
PwC’s analysis reveals that in 2023, football had an impact of over €11 billion on the Italian GDP, activating nearly 130,000 jobs annually and generating €3.3 billion in total tax revenue.

Football’s Dominance in Italy

The report highlights that football remains a cornerstone of Italian sports.
The FIGC, together with amateur and youth football, represents the main sports movement in Italy, influencing over 20% of all sports clubs in the country and nearly one out of three registered athletes in Italy.
With over 11,000 sports clubs, 62,000 teams, 1.1 million registered players, 36,000 coaches, and 244,000 executives, football continues to be a driving force in Italian sports.

Challenges of Sustainability in Italian Football

The sustainability of Italian football has become a pressing issue for clubs.
The ReportCalcio for 2023 reveals that between 2007-2008 and 2022-2023, production value increased by €1.9 billion while production costs surged by €2.4 billion.
On average, for every additional euro in revenue, €1.3 was spent on costs.
Additionally, clubs rely heavily on external funding, with only 5% of investments coming from internal sources.

Despite the challenges, 2023 saw a record production value of nearly €4.3 billion, with revenue increasing by 23.9% and labor costs by only 2.7%.
While there are positive signals, FIGC President Gravina warns of the delicate situation, emphasizing the need for a balance between costs and revenues for sustainable growth.

Towards a Sustainable Future

The ReportCalcio serves as a strategic tool to guide the necessary reforms in Italian football towards economic sustainability.
As the sector aims to address financial challenges over the next five years, a clear strategic direction is essential to transform intentions into tangible results.

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