Como will host RB Leipzig on Thursday at 20:00 BST in the club's first Champions League match, and the main story before kick-off is who will be in the stands. President Mirwan Suwarso and other club executives are giving up their seats so supporters born in 1950 or earlier can attend a night Como are entering for the first time in their 119-year history.
Suwarso, quoted by bbc.co.uk, explained the decision clearly: "With the reduced capacity and the limited number of tickets available, unfortunately we cannot accommodate everyone who would have liked to be there. However, some club executives and I have decided to give up our seats for this match."
It is a smart gesture because it fits the moment. Clubs often talk about honouring their history; Como are doing it in a way supporters will actually notice on the night.
The ticket call before Leipzig's visit
The released seats are being prioritised for fans born in 1950 or earlier. Suwarso said: "We want those seats to be allocated to supporters who have waited the longest - fans born in 1950 or earlier, who have followed Como through every division and every era."
That detail gives the move its weight. This is not a general PR line about rewarding loyalty. It is a specific decision aimed at older supporters who have seen the club through much thinner times than a Champions League opener against Leipzig.
Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia holds about 12,000, but capacity has been reduced by 1,000 because of UEFA broadcasting and operational requirements. In a ground that size, seats handed back by directors actually mean something.
Suwarso added: "We will be honoured to give up our seat for them." The phrasing is simple, but it lands because demand has plainly outgrown supply for the biggest home game the club have staged.
The rise that made this night possible
The football side of the story is still substantial. Como are in this competition after finishing fourth in Serie A side Como's 2025 league campaign with 71 points, 65 goals scored, 29 conceded and a +36 goal difference.
Those numbers explain why Thursday is more than a novelty fixture. Como did not drift into Europe. They earned it over a full league season, and they did it with a stronger goal difference than Leipzig managed in the Bundesliga in 2025.
The climb has been steep. Como ended a 21-year wait to reach Serie A in 2024 after a third promotion in six seasons, and the club have also gone bankrupt twice in the past two decades. That is why Suwarso's focus on older supporters feels well judged rather than sentimental for the sake of it.
There is also a football test attached to the occasion. RB Leipzig finished third in the Bundesliga in 2025 with 65 points, scored 66 goals and conceded 47, so Como's first night in the competition comes against established opposition rather than a soft landing.
Head coach C. Fabregas is not quoted here, but his team go into the match with domestic form behind them after winning four and drawing one of their last five league games. Leipzig's recent run has been less clean, with three wins and two defeats across their last five.
That should add edge to the occasion, but the club's own framing is hard to miss. Thursday is a major football event for Como, yet they have chosen to make room first for the supporters who waited longest to see it.
FAQ
Why are Como executives giving up seats for the Champions League debut?
Como president Mirwan Suwarso said demand for tickets exceeded what the club could provide because of reduced stadium capacity. He and other executives decided to surrender their seats so supporters born in 1950 or earlier can attend the club's first Champions League match.
Who are Como prioritising for tickets against RB Leipzig?
The released seats are being allocated to supporters born in 1950 or earlier. Suwarso said the club wanted to reward fans who had waited the longest and had followed Como through every division and era.
When is Como's first Champions League match?
Como host RB Leipzig on Thursday at 20:00 BST. It is the club's first Champions League game in its 119-year history.
How did Como qualify for the Champions League?
Como reached the competition after finishing fourth in Serie A in 2025 with 71 points. They scored 65 league goals, conceded 29 and ended the campaign with a +36 goal difference.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
