Puglia football clubs Taranto and Gallipoli grapple with stadium delays and loss of sport titles

Taranto Calcio, now competing in the Eccellenza Puglia, will play its 2025‑26 season at the Stadio Italia in Massafra while the historic Stadio Erasmo Iacovone undergoes a €60 million reconstruction for the 2026 Mediterranean Games. The new stadium, slated for delivery in July 2026, will meet UEFA standards and host the Games, but the club must remain away from its home ground until then.

In Gallipoli, the club that finished the season in Eccellenza Puglia handed its sport title to the mayor after a two‑year financial crisis, loss of key sponsorships and failed attempts by local entrepreneurs to acquire the club. The mayor now seeks ways to preserve the city's football heritage and the club’s federation registration.