Milan, Inter, Juventus and Palermo to play in Australia this summer

Italian giants set for Down Under showdown

Inter, AC Milan, Juventus and Palermo are heading to Australia in August 2026 for a bold pre-season tour featuring two of Italian football’s most iconic fixtures: the Derby della Madonnina and the Derby d’Italia. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the schedule has been finalised and official confirmation is expected imminently. The entire series will unfold at Optus Stadium in Perth, transforming the Western Australian capital into a temporary epicentre of Serie A glamour.

This marks a significant push to globalise Italian football, following the collapse of plans for a Milan-Como match in Perth earlier in 2025. This time, the stakes are higher: not just one, but three high-octane friendlies are on the slate. The presence of Palermo, owned by the City Football Group — which also controls Melbourne City — underscores the commercial and strategic intent behind the venture.

"This is Italian football going global — not just as exhibition, but as statement", said a source close to the negotiations.

Derby della Madonnina lights up Perth

The marquee event will be the Milan derby on August 5, as Inter and AC Milan lock horns in a fierce battle stripped of league pressure but rich in symbolism. Playing in front of a hybrid crowd of ex-pats, local fans and neutrals, both teams will aim to assert dominance early in pre-season. Expect crisp passing, aggressive pressing, and flashes of individual brilliance from box-to-box midfielders and false nines alike.

Inter will then face Juventus on August 8 in the storied Derby d’Italia — a fixture that rarely graces pre-season calendars. While AC Milan will depart for other training bases, the Bianconeri remain in Perth to complete their mini-tour, maintaining rhythm and cohesion ahead of the new campaign. These matches offer vital minutes for new signings and tactical experimentation under match conditions.

Palermo’s role in the City Football blueprint

The inclusion of Palermo, currently managed by Italy legend Filippo Inzaghi and competing in Serie B, is no accident. Their clash with Juventus on August 11 serves as both a competitive test and a showcase for the City Group’s global network. For Inzaghi, it’s a chance to pit his developing side against elite opposition, fine-tuning his pressing triggers and transition play.

For fans, this series offers more than nostalgia — it’s a glimpse into football’s increasingly interconnected future, where club brands transcend borders, and pre-season becomes a theatre of global engagement.