The football stadium known as the most beautiful in the world might be banned from playing in Europe.
Football fans all over the world love to say their stadium is the most beautiful, thanks to local pride. But for one group of fans, they might not get to proudly show off their stadium in European games because it’s facing a ban.
Europe has some amazing stadiums that have shone in big competitions, from Barcelona’s famous Camp Nou to Braga’s unique ground.
This season, Cesc Fabregas has done really well with Como, helping them reach at least the Conference League, with hopes still alive for the Europa League in their last two Serie A matches. When they won against Verona on Sunday, it confirmed they’ll play in Europe next season—but probably not at their home, Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium.
It’s been an amazing journey for the club by Lake Como, moving up from Serie B in 2024 to qualifying for Europe. But this fast rise comes with some problems: their stadium doesn’t meet UEFA’s rules. In fact, the Giuseppe Sinigaglia is called “the world’s most beautiful stadium,” but it was built in 1927 and only recently updated to meet Serie A standards.
In April, inspectors checked the stadium and found a problem with a temporary scaffold stand where the hardcore fans, the ultras, sit. UEFA rules say all stands must be fixed to a solid foundation, no temporary scaffolding allowed. So Como must make this part permanent, and luckily, the club’s president has the city mayor’s support to fix it this summer.
There’s also a simpler fix: widening the pitch from 66 to 68 meters and making sure there’s a two-meter space between the touchline and the advertising boards—both needed by UEFA.
If these changes aren’t done in time, Como might have to play their European games in another Italian stadium. Two options are being talked about: the Mapei Stadium in Sassuolo, which is 150 miles away, or the Bluenergy Stadium (formerly Stadio Friuli) in Udine, home to Serie A club Udinese.