Calcio Italiano Brings A Celebration Of Italian Football And Food To Perth

All eyes might be on the Socceroos in the World Cup right now, but come August, Italian soccer royalty will be touching down in Perth as AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus and Palermo battle it out at Optus Stadium for Calcio Italiano.

The headline event kicks off on Wednesday 5 August, when AC Milan takes on Inter Milan in the iconic Milano Derby. Inter Milan will then face Juventus on Saturday 8 August, before Juventus meets Palermo on Tuesday 11 August. For football fans, it’s a seriously rare chance to see some of Italy’s biggest clubs and fiercest rivalries play out right here in Perth.

And while the three blockbuster matches are reason enough to get excited, the action is set to spill well beyond the stadium, with a massive Beyond The Game program bringing football legends, open training sessions, supporter parties, Italian food, cultural events and match-week celebrations to venues across Perth. Here's everything you need to know: 

Must See Matches

Image credit: Calcio Italiano | Supplied

The main event unfolds across three must-watch matches at Optus Stadium:

AC Milan v Inter Milan
Optus Stadium | Wednesday 5 August 

Inter Milan v Juventus FC 
Optus Stadium | Saturday 8 August 

Juventus FC v Palermo FC
Optus Stadium | Tuesday 11 August 

Tickets for all three Calcio Italiano matches are on sale now via Ticketmaster, with adult tickets starting from $49.80 and more than half of available tickets for each match priced under $100.

Adding to the hype, a stacked lineup of football legends will also be making appearances throughout the program, including Juventus icons Fabrizio Ravanelli and Giorgio Chiellini, AC Milan greats Christian Panucci and Serginho, Inter Milan legends Javier Zanetti and Christian Vieri, and Palermo stars Fabrizio Miccoli and Amauri.

Beyond The Game

Image credit: Calcio Italiano | Supplied

Beyond the matches, the wider program will include supporter parties across Perth, dedicated club fan venues, open training sessions, grassroots football activations and a series of Italian food and culture moments designed to turn match week into a full-blown celebration.

Highlights include Little Italy, a multi-day Italian-inspired community carnival at the Optus Stadium precinct; Legends of Milan at the Astor Theatre; Juventus Open Training at Optus Stadium; Coppa Dei Rivali, a five-a-side tournament at the Sam Kerr Football Centre; and a sports lunch featuring Alessandro Del Piero, Christian Vieri, Javier Zanetti and Giorgio Chiellini.

There’ll also be sports forums, business and trade events, and major match-week celebrations taking over the city, making this one far more than a quick in-and-out stadium event.