For decades, soccer dominated Italy not only culturally but financially. That balance has now shifted in a way few would have predicted. In 2025, Italian tennis officially surpassed soccer in federation revenues for the first time, marking a historic turning point in the country’s sports economy.
The Italian Tennis and Padel Federation reported revenues of more than €230 million in 2025, compared with just over €200 million for the Italian Football Federation. The gap had already been narrowing – tennis generated about €209 million in 2024 versus €224 million for soccer – but the crossover in 2025 represents a decisive break from an 80-year tradition of football supremacy.
