Ask any football fan to name some of the most famous, historic football clubs in the world game, and chances are they’d reel off several from Serie A, Italy’s fabled top-tier league.
This August, Perth is hosting four premier Italian teams for the Calcio Italiano – an exhibition of elite football featuring some of the best players in the world. Powerhouse clubs AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus and Palermo will all be in town for three fiercely contested games at award winning Optus Stadium.
Alongside the action on the pitch, Calcio Italiano also offers a rich cultural experience, with an Italian-themed festival featuring food, music and more. Here’s why a trip to Perth for this showcase of the beautiful game is a no-brainer.
Derby di Milano
The Milan derby, contested by AC Milan and Inter Milan, is among the great club rivalries in European football. The derby has its roots in contrasting demographics and neighbourhoods of the city, with the first game taking place back in 1908. Though Inter Milan is currently top of Serie A by some distance, it was actually AC Milan who took out the most recent Derby di Milano – a tight 1-0 win in early March.
The two Milan giants play each other at Optus Stadium on Wednesday August 5, with hostilities unlikely to be diminished on WA soil. Both teams are set to bring their top players Down Under for this latest instalment of the historic clash, with this the third year in succession AC Milan has brought its preseason preparations to Perth. Excitingly for Inter fans, the occasion marks their first time playing in Australia.
Derby D’Italia
Inter Milan has the honour of taking part in another storied rivalry in Italian football, the Derby D’Italia, in which Inter must contend with the might of Turin-based Juventus. This derby has been going since 1909, with Inter the latest victor thanks to a 3-2 win in February. The next chapter takes place at Optus Stadium on Saturday August 8.
Juventus is the most successful Serie A club of all time, with 36 championship titles to its name. The famous club has been off the pace of the two Milan giants during the 2025–26 season, providing added motivation to get one over on its old foes in Perth. This match-up is set to be one you don’t want to miss.
Juventus vs Palermo
After taking on Inter on the Saturday, Juventus will stay on in Perth for a match against Sicilian club Palermo on Tuesday August 11.
Palermo currently plays in Serie B, the second tier of Italian football, but at the time of writing the club is firmly in the mix for promotion to Serie A for the 2026–27 season. As one of the oldest clubs in Italy, Palermo has a proud history and is currently managed by Italian football legend Filippo Inzaghi.
Palermo fans will be hoping this match turns out to be a preseason tune-up for a return to Serie A – either way, it’s an opportunity for Palermo’s players to test themselves against a true giant of the game.
Beyond the football
For the duration of Calcio Italiano, the precinct around Optus Stadium will transform into a “Little Italy”, offering food, music and immersion in all things Italian.
You can also expect open training sessions where you can see the football stars close-up, and special fan events throughout the weeklong festa of Italian football.
This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Tourism Western Australia. Calcio Italiano comes to Perth’s Optus Stadium from August 5 to 11. Tickets are on sale now.