Como directors give up Champions League tickets to elderly supporters

Executive ticket initiative

Como 1907 president Mirwan Suwarso and fellow club directors will surrender their personal seats for the team's UEFA Champions League debut on 10 September 2026 against RB Leipzig. The initiative transfers VIP tribune tickets to supporters born in 1950 or earlier who followed the Italian club across lower divisions. Club officials invited fans to submit nominations of eligible supporters over 75 years of age to a dedicated email address (community@comofootball.com). The fixture at the sold-out Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia marks the first European match in the club's 119-year history.

With the reduced capacity and limited number of tickets available, unfortunately we cannot accommodate everyone who would have liked to be there. However, some club directors and I have decided to give up our seats for this match. We want them to be allocated to the fans who have waited the longest: supporters born in 1950 or earlier, who followed Como in every division and every era.

Rapid rise to European football

The club's European qualification follows a rapid ascent through Italian football after two bankruptcies over the past two decades. Owned since 2019 by Indonesian billionaire brothers Robert Budi and Michael Hartono of the Djarum conglomerate, Como competed in Serie C as recently as 2021. A promotion campaign in 2024 ended a 21-year absence from Serie A after three promotions in six seasons. Under manager Cesc Fabregas, the squad finished 10th in its first top-flight campaign before securing fourth place last season to earn a Champions League berth. The team enters Thursday's continental fixture holding fourth place in Serie A after three matchdays.

Stadium constraints and future plans

High demand for tickets collided with strict logistical and infrastructure limitations at the lakeside venue. While the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia typically accommodates roughly 12,000 spectators, UEFA broadcast requirements, match organization rules, and recent summer renovation work reduced capacity to 10,000 seats. Ticket scarcity previously led the club to establish minimum attendance requirements for season ticket renewals during the summer. To address long-term infrastructure needs, Como plans to start a comprehensive modernization of the stadium in 2027.

European campaign ahead

The fixture against RB Leipzig opens an eight-match Champions League league phase for the Lombardy club. Como will host several continental fixtures at the Sinigaglia, including matches against defending champions Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United. The team, which features young Argentine midfielder Nico Paz, will also face Feyenoord, Lens, AEK Athens, Real Betis, and Barcelona across the tournament's opening stage.