Some 16,000 fans were admitted for the opening match between Italy and Turkey, around 25% of capacity, after authorities kept a firm cap on attendance at the tournament due to COVID-19 concerns.

It started with a video with a countdown that shows the last 60 years of the tournament in a frenetic journey through memories and emotions.

There was a fly-past from Frecce Tricolori, the aerobatic demonstration wing of the Italian Air Force, while Italian football legends Francesco Totti and Alessandro Nesta  kicked balls into the stands to mark the return of supporters in Italy for the first time since March 2020.