Juventus to face Inter and Palermo in pre-season tour of Australia
Juventus have confirmed they will travel to Australia this summer for a two-match pre-season tour, where they will face rivals Inter and Serie B side Palermo. The club announced the fixtures, branded as the 'Juventus Summer Tour powered by Jeep', in an official statement on their channels. The matches are scheduled for 8 August against Inter and 11 August against Palermo, with both games to be held at the Optus Stadium in Perth.
The tour is framed by the club as a key part of its international pre-season programme and a celebration of Italian football culture abroad. Juventus stated the event will place fans 'in the front row to see their beloved Bianconeri in elite football' as part of an 'Italian Football' festival. For Palermo, currently managed by Filippo Inzaghi and pushing for promotion from Serie B, the fixture represents a high-profile opportunity against top-tier opposition.
This initiative underscores Juventus's ongoing strategy to engage and expand its global fanbase, particularly in a region where it has established infrastructure. The club's statement highlighted that Australia is home to three official Juventus fan clubs and three Juventus Academies, including one in Perth. The tour will include fan experiences and community events designed to strengthen ties with supporters in the region beyond the matches themselves.
Commercially, the club described the tour as an important platform to accelerate its commercial momentum in the Asia-Pacific region. It is expected to provide increased visibility and activation opportunities for key global partners such as Jeep, adidas, and EA Sports. The statement concluded that the aim is to build lasting connections with the Australian fan community, making the event more than just two friendly matches.
For Juventus, the tour comes at a pivotal moment as the current season reaches its climax, with the team engaged in a tight battle to secure a Champions League place for next term. The summer schedule indicates a clear focus on maintaining a strong international profile while preparing for the demands of the 2024-25 campaign. The high-profile friendly against Inter, in particular, will offer an early glimpse of the rivalry's dynamics ahead of the new Serie A season.
