If Como qualify for Champions League, there are problems on horizon
If Como qualify for Champions League, there are problems on horizon Cesc Fabregas and Como look as if they could qualify for the Champions League, but the club might face stadium issues and UEFA Financial Fair Play penalties. The Lariani were in Serie B only two seasons ago, but are currently flying high in fourth place , well ahead of Roma and Juventus in the hunt for Champions League qualification. It would be an astounding achievement for the minnows, who have not participated in European competition since the Mitropa Cup in 1980-81, when it allowed entry from winners of the Serie B title.
Como not yet equipped for Champions League COMO, ITALY – FEBRUARY 01: Como 1907 fans show their support during the Serie A match between Como 1907 and Atalanta BC at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on February 01, 2026 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) If Como were to enter the Champions League, it could create some significant problems, starting with the Stadio Sinigaglia. Reconstruction work would be required to bring the arena up to code for UEFA competitions, and if that was not completed by September 2026, then they’d have to play their home fixtures elsewhere.
This isn’t entirely new, so Calcio e Finanza report they have asked Sassuolo to use the Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia instead. They already did this favour for Atalanta when they first entered the Champions League too. BOLOGNA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 01: Mirwan Suwarso president of Como during the Serie A match between Bologna and Como at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on February 01, 2025 in Bologna, Italy.
(Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images) Another problem is represented by Como’s finances, as the club was picked up post-bankruptcy in Serie D by rich Indonesians the Hartono family. Their strong investment has allowed the team to go from strength to strength, but it also means they closed the financial year in June 2025 at a loss of €105m. Calcio e Finanza report that UEFA would give the Serie A side some grace for the first season, but after that they’d require a Settlement Agreement until balancing the books.
It is not dissimilar to the situation faced by Aston Villa when returning to Europe in 2023.