- Italy's world-famous football club AC Milan returns to Perth in July for pre-season match against Perth Glory
- Thousands of fans expected to pack out HBF Park to watch Australian-exclusive match
- Continues building on WA's reputation as a premier destination for international sporting events
- Tourism and major events form a key part of WA's efforts to diversify the economy and create local jobs
Italian football powerhouse AC Milan will return to Perth this winter for an Australian-exclusive showdown against Perth Glory at HBF Park.
Taking place on Thursday, 31 July, the friendly will be the only match played in Australia this year by AC Milan.
The club has a strong Australian and Asian fan base, thousands of whom are expected to travel to Perth for the chance to see the team play in-person.
Supported by the Western Australian Government, the match comes off the back of AC Milan's blockbuster game against AS Roma at Optus Stadium in May 2024, which drew 7,500 people from interstate and overseas, injecting nearly $9 million into the economy.
As one of the globe's most iconic football clubs that plays in the Serie A league - regarded as one of the best in the world - AC Milan is one of the most successful and recognisable clubs in world football.
AC Milan v Perth Glory will be the Italian club's final stop on their pre-season tour, following matches in Hong Kong and Singapore.
The announcement adds to a blockbuster winter of sport in WA, with the NRL State of Origin Game II; Socceroos v Japan Round Three World Cup Qualifiers; AFL North Melbourne home games in Perth and Bunbury; British & Irish Lions v Western Force; and Matildas International Series against Slovenia and Panama, all taking place in June and July.
It also builds on the Cook Labor Government's focus on creating a diverse, year-round events calendar to continue driving visitation, particularly during cooler months.
Event tourism forms a major part of the Cook Labor Government's efforts to support local jobs, diversify the economy and generate valuable tourism dollars for local businesses and industry.
In 2023-24, events generated a record $286 million for the local economy from major, large, regional and mass participation events.
Pre-sale tickets for AC Milan and Perth Glory members go on sale on Wednesday, 21 May, with general public tickets available from 2pm AWST on Thursday, 22 May via www.ticketmaster.com.au/acmilan
As stated by Tourism Minister Reece Whitby:
"Before last year's Italian football spectacle, AC Milan hadn't played a match in WA for more than 30 years and their swift return only a year later proves WA is being recognised globally as a premier events destination.
"Drawcard names like AC Milan bring crowds of fans to our State from across Australia and overseas, which boosts our tourism and hospitality businesses and injects millions in visitor spend into our economy, while supporting local jobs and creating vibrancy across Perth.
"By growing WA's reputation as a world-class host of major events, we put the State in great stead to attract bigger and better events every year, which will continue to deliver great economic returns for our tourism and hospitality sectors and the broader State."
As stated by Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti:
"We know how much the world's game has grown in WA in recent years, so it's very exciting to again be hosting an Italian powerhouse like AC Milan against our local Perth Glory and giving fans the opportunity to see them up close.
"HBF Park is a spectacular rectangular stadium for international football, having hosted the likes of Women's World Cup matches, the Socceroos and Matildas for World Cup and Olympic qualifiers plus the Women's Super League last year.
"With this match, plus the four Matildas' international friendlies and the Socceroos World Cup qualifier, it's shaping up to be another huge winter of football here in WA."
