In recent days, Como 1907 proudly welcomed the eleventh stage of the Philadelphia Junior Cup | Keep Racism Out to the Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium, a national youth tournament dedicated to local parish groups (oratori) that combines sport, education, and the fight against all forms of discrimination.
The Como stage began on Wednesday, March 18, when the Club opened the doors of the stadium to the young athletes of the Oratorio San Siro - Lomazzo and the boys and girls of the BiancoBlu youth sector. The afternoon was dedicated not only to football technique but, above all, to reflecting on the core pillars of the project: friendship, respect, and inclusion.
Acting as hosts were two exceptional ambassadors, Assane Diao, forward for the men's First Team, and Sofia Colombo, midfielder for the women's First Team, who met with the youngsters for a direct and engaging discussion.
The youth from Oratorio San Siro-Lomazzo presented the players with the “Football is Friendship” jersey, a tangible symbol of the values the project aims to promote. The forward and the midfielder then signed the “Philadelphia Junior Cup | Keep Racism Out” kit, donated by Lega Calcio Serie A to the parish team captains, serving as a testament to the project’s educational mission and the Lariano Club's commitment to nurturing socially conscious young athletes.
The meeting also saw the active participation of key figures from the club and the sporting institutions involved: Camilla Veronelli (CSR Manager and Head of Community Relations and Sustainability at Como 1907), Mattia Belluzzi (Club Psychologist), Elena Vetere (Lega Serie A CSR Office), and Maurizio Galli (Deputy Vice President of CSI Como) all spoke during the event, once again emphasizing the values the project seeks to transmit. The meeting was preceded by a tour of the Sinigaglia stadium, allowing the youngsters from Oratorio San Siro-Lomazzo and two of the club's youth teams to experience the atmosphere of professional football from a privileged perspective.
The Como stage culminated during the home match against Pisa on Sunday, March 22, when the Sinigaglia stadium was decked out in BiancoBlu to welcome the youth from Oratorio Santi Felice Vescovo e Francesco d'Assisi and Oratorio San Vito Gornate.
It was an unforgettable experience for the young footballers: after discovering the secrets of the press room and the locker rooms, they had the privilege of stepping onto the pitch, sitting on the Serie A champions' benches, and welcoming the Como players with a "high five" as they entered the field for their warm-up, making the deep bond between professional football and the founding values of sport increasingly tangible.
Como 1907’s participation in the Philadelphia Junior Cup is part of the broader “Keep Racism Out” campaign, promoted by Lega Serie A and UNAR. The goal is singular and shared: to leverage the media and social power of football to build inclusive environments and break down the barriers of prejudice.
As the Philadelphia Junior Cup heads toward the final at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Como 1907 confirms its daily commitment, because the most important match is won together, in the name of respect and tolerance.
