- AC Milan, FC Internazionale Milano, Juventus, and Palermo FC heading to Perth for Calcio Italiano as part of WA's Winter of Unmissable Sport
- Massive month of major sporting events expected to attract thousands of out-of-state visitors and inject millions of dollars into the WA economy
- Events play a significant role in the Cook Government's economic diversification strategy, boosting the tourism sector and supporting local jobs and businesses
Western Australia is set to host some of Italy's most iconic men's football teams this August for a blockbuster friendly tournament as part of a Winter of Unmissable Sport.
Perth will welcome AC Milan, FC Internazionale Milano, Juventus, and Palermo FC for Calcio Italiano - an Australian-exclusive pre-season football tournament.
Supported by the Cook Government through Tourism WA, Calcio Italiano at Optus Stadium will include three friendly matches featuring:
- AC Milan v FC Internazionale Milano on Wednesday, 5 August;
- Juventus v FC Internazionale Milano on Saturday, 8 August; and
- Juventus v Palermo FC on Tuesday, 11 August.
The program highlights two of Italy's most storied rivalries - the 'Derby della Madonnina' between AC Milan and Inter, known as the intense battle for Milan, and the 'Derby d'Italia', a historic national rivalry between Juventus and Inter - promising Perth the experience of some iconic and thrilling match-ups.
Calcio Italiano is the newest fixture in a four-week period of Unmissable Sport stacked with multiple events across a number of sporting codes. WA's Winter of Unmissable Sport is expected to bring thousands of out-of-state visitors to Western Australia and drive extended stays to attend multiple events, injecting millions of dollars into the State's economy, growing the tourism sector, and supporting local jobs and businesses.
The Winter of Unmissable Sport includes the Nations Championship rugby union showdown between Australia's Wallabies and Italy, a number of AFL matches, Perth SuperSprint, an NRL face-off between Melbourne Storm v Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, Backroads Gravel, and the Avon Descent.
Securing Calcio Italianois the result of a growing relationship between the Cook Government and Italy's major football clubs, which began with Perth hosting an exciting exhibition match between AC Milan and AS Roma in 2024.
The 2024 friendly between AC Milan and AS Roma drew nearly 7,500 people from interstate and overseas, injecting close to $9 million into the WA economy.
AC Milan and FC Internazionale Milano are among the most prestigious clubs in world football, currently sitting at the top of the 2025-26 Serie A table. With seven UEFA Champions League titles, AC Milan is one of the most successful clubs in European football history, while Inter has secured 20 Serie A titles.
Juventus stands as Italy's most decorated team and one of the most globally recognised clubs, with 38 Serie A titles and 15 Coppa Italia titles. The club has an exceptional global reach of over 561 million fans, with almost 200 million followers on social media channels.
Founded in 1900, Palermo FC is one of Italy's oldest football clubs with a rich history and widespread support, having won five Serie B titles and standing as one of Sicily's most prominent sides.
WA continues to cement its status as a premier destination for major international football events and world-class sporting fixtures, with recent highlights including the Socceroos' FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier against Japan and the record-breaking AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026.
The Cook Government's continued investment in major events continues to support the State's economic diversification strategy, drive growth in the tourism sector, and create local jobs and business opportunities.
Ticket pre-sales will commence on Tuesday, 14 April, with general sales to go live from Wednesday, 15 April.
Find out more about the Winter of Unmissable Sport at WesternAustralia.com/UnmissableSports and Calcio Italiano at calcioperth.com
As stated by Tourism Minister Reece Whitby:
"Western Australia is ready to welcome these giants of Italian football to Perth this winter as part of our Winter of Unmissable Sport, featuring unforgettable events that are sure to draw fans from around the world and place our State firmly on the international stage.
"Attracting these clubs to Perth for this specific event across a week is truly a unique opportunity for football fans in Australia and around the world to experience a global event in the winter months.
"It's fantastic to continue strengthening our relationship with Italy's major football clubs, ensuring we can secure exclusive opportunities like Calcio Italiano and demonstrate that Western Australia is a world-class host for major sporting events.
"We are consistently seeing the positive impact these major events have on our communities - boosting our tourism sector, supporting local jobs and businesses, and diversifying Western Australia's economy."
As stated by Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti:
"Securing AC Milan, Inter, Juventus, and Palermo to play in Perth is a huge result for Western Australia and our local football community.
"We know how much events like this matter to fans, players, and clubs right across WA, which is why we fight to secure these opportunities.
"Events like Calcio Italiano inspire the next generation, strengthen participation and get more kids involved in sport across WA.
"They also deliver real economic benefits, driving visitation, supporting local jobs and businesses, and reinforcing WA's reputation as a major events destination."
