PERTH - Running from 4 to 11 August, the event will feature AC Milan, Juventus and, for the first time in Australia, Inter Milan and Palermo FC, with organisers hoping to attract football fans from across the country while showcasing Italy’s cultural and economic links with the state.
The matches will be accompanied by the Little Italy Festival, taking place at Optus Stadium from 5 to 9 August, offering visitors a taste of Italy through regional food and wine and exhibitions by Italian businesses. It will also feature displays of classic and contemporary Italian cars, live music, cinema and family entertainment, recreating the atmosphere of a traditional Italian piazza.
While football is the centrepiece of the program, organisers say the initiative is aimed at being much more than simply a series of exhibition matches.
Speaking to Rete Italia, Western Australian Legislative Assembly member Frank Paolino said the event would use sport as a platform to strengthen cultural, tourism and commercial ties between Italy and Western Australia.
“We’re not just talking about three football matches,” Paolino said. “This is an opportunity to showcase Italy to the world through sport, while also promoting its culture, trade and investment potential.”
The festival reflects the WA Government’s broader strategy of attracting major international events to the State. After hosting high-profile sporting competitions and concerts by international artists including Coldplay and Taylor Swift, Perth has continued to build its reputation as a destination for world-class events.
Paolino said the introduction of direct flights between Rome and Perth had further strengthened the relationship between Italy and WA, making travel easier while encouraging tourism, investment and new business opportunities.
Football fans will also have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the tournament through a series of dedicated ‘team houses’ established across Perth for supporters of each club.
One of the most significant locations will be Casa Palermo, based in Fremantle, home to one of Western Australia’s oldest Sicilian communities. Fremantle also shares a long-standing sister-city relationship with Capo d’Orlando, in Sicily’s Province of Messina, reflecting the historical connection between the region and generations of Sicilian migrants who settled in WA.
Several former stars of Italian football are also expected to attend the festival. Paolino said Christian Vieri, Christian Panucci, Amauri, Alessandro Del Piero and Giorgio Chiellini are among the confirmed guests, with the former players taking part in fan events and public appearances throughout the week. Their involvement is expected to add further prestige to a festival that celebrates both the heritage and continuing global appeal of Italian football.
The program begins on 4 August with the traditional Legends Lunch at the WA Italian Club, one of the oldest Italian clubs in the world, followed by AC Milan’s open training session.
The following day will mark the official opening of the Little Italy Festival, ahead of the eagerly anticipated Milan Derby.
The week will also include a business and investment forum, Palermo’s friendly match against Melbourne City on 7 August, open training sessions for Inter Milan and Juventus and the Derby d’Italia. The final fixture between Juventus and Palermo will take place on 11 August, alongside a range of community events across the city.
Organisers hope the festival will appeal not only to football supporters but also Australia’s broader Italian community and anyone interested in Italian culture. “We look forward to welcoming everyone with open arms,” Paolino said.
