Como have earned the right to plan for Europe, but the planning may not centre on the Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium's lakefront stands. UEFA inspectors visited the ground in April to judge whether it is suitable for European competition, and C. Fabregas's side may yet be told to play home matches elsewhere if the work is not finished in time. The leading fallback is Sassuolo's Mapei Stadium, which is being considered as an option 150 miles away.

Why the stadium is under scrutiny

The ground first opened in 1927, so the setting is part of the appeal, not an afterthought. But UEFA's concern is practical. The temporary scaffold curve that houses Como's ultras is an issue because stands need to be fixed to a load-bearing foundation, and that is exactly the kind of detail UEFA checks when a club moves into continental football.

That is why the April visit matters. It was not a ceremonial look around a pretty venue. It was an inspection to work out whether the stadium could host Conference League football without shortcuts.

Como's league rise makes the issue immediate

The scale of Como's season explains why this has become a live problem. They finished 6th in Serie A, collected 62 points, won 17 league matches and ended with a +31 goal difference. Then they clinched Conference League qualification by beating Hellas Verona.

Those numbers are the football reason this story exists. Como were in the second division as recently as 2024, and now their reward for the jump is a European summer that may begin with a 150-mile trip away from the lake.

If the Sinigaglia work is not completed in time, the fallback is clear enough, even if it is not yet final. Mapei is the stand-out alternative in the brief, and for a club built around one of Italy's most picturesque settings, that would be a very different kind of home advantage.

The success is real. So is the logistical catch. Como have reached Europe, but UEFA compliance may decide where they actually get to play their first home game.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →