AC Milan will face Inter Milan in a derby friendly in Perth, Australia on August 5 before travelling to Jakarta, Indonesia to play Chelsea on August 8. The club confirmed the match against the English Premier League side on Tuesday, stating it will be the first-ever match between two top European clubs to be played in Indonesia. The Rossoneri will use Perth as their base camp for the summer tour, a city they visited last preseason.
According to the club's official announcement, the match against Chelsea will be held at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium. Milan highlighted the significance of the Indonesian market, noting the country is home to the club's third-largest global fanbase, with an estimated 40 million supporters according to Nielsen data, and its largest digital following worldwide. The preseason schedule represents a continued commercial push into the Asia-Pacific region for the Italian giants, mirroring their 2023 tour which also featured matches in the United States.
The derby against Inter in Perth revives a planned event from the previous season that was ultimately cancelled. Last summer, Milan had been scheduled to play a Serie A match against Como in Perth, but the league fixture was called off following significant controversy and logistical concerns. This summer's friendly fulfills the club's commitment to play in Western Australia. The match against Chelsea continues a recent pattern of high-profile preseason meetings between the two clubs, having faced each other in the United States in recent years.
For Milan, the tour represents a crucial preparation period under the expected continued management of Stefano Pioli or a potential new coach, with the club's sporting direction for next season yet to be fully defined. The intense, travel-heavy schedule will test the squad's fitness ahead of the 2024-25 Serie A campaign. For Chelsea, under Mauricio Pochettino, the match offers a high-level test in front of a massive Asian audience as they continue to build their global brand. The preseason fixtures are part of a wider series of high-profile friendlies being staged across Asia and Australia this summer, featuring several top European clubs capitalizing on their international fanbases.
