Serie A giants to play pre-season friendlies in Australia this August
AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Juventus are set to travel to Australia for a series of high-profile pre-season friendlies this August, according to a report from La Gazzetta dello Sport. The planned matches, which include a Milan derby and a clash between Juventus and Inter, will take place in Perth after a previous attempt to host an official Serie A match in the country was vetoed earlier this year.
The itinerary, which is expected to be officially confirmed shortly, will see AC Milan face Inter at Perth's Optus Stadium on August 5. This derby fixture carries added intrigue after AC Milan, under manager Massimiliano Allegri, won both league meetings against their city rivals during the recent Serie A season. Just three days later, on August 8, the same venue will host Juventus against Inter in another heavyweight friendly encounter.
A third match featuring Italian teams is scheduled for August 11, with Juventus set to face Palermo. The Sicilian club, now owned by the City Football Group, maintains a significant fanbase among the Italian diaspora in Australia. The City Group also owns A-League side Melbourne City, adding a further layer of connection to the region. AC Milan will continue their pre-season preparations elsewhere after their opening match and are not currently slated to play Juventus on the tour.
This summer's events mark a significant step up from last year, when only AC Milan traveled to Perth for a solitary friendly. The involvement of three of Italy's most storied clubs underscores Serie A's continued efforts to expand its global commercial footprint and engage with international supporter bases. The Australian market has long been a target for European leagues, given its strong football culture and large expatriate communities.
The tour was organized after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) blocked an initial plan to stage an official, points-bearing Serie A match in Perth on February 6. That fixture, which was to feature AC Milan against newly-promoted Como, would have been the first Serie A game ever played outside of Europe. The AFC's refusal was based on regulations concerning the staging of official matches outside a confederation's territory. The August friendlies circumvent this issue, as they are non-competitive preparatory matches.
For the clubs, the tour represents a lucrative commercial opportunity and a chance to prepare for the new season in a controlled environment against top-level opposition. For Australian fans, it provides a rare opportunity to see some of Europe's biggest stars and most intense rivalries on their home soil. The matches are expected to draw large crowds, particularly from the substantial Italian communities in cities like Perth and Melbourne.
