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 for devoted fans, consider this a chance to not only watch some of the most exciting teams in action, but to also catch a glimpse of some real legends of the game. You'll be able to catch sightings of Alessandro Del Piero, 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, all making special appearances throughout the event. 

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
HBF Park | 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.

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 free five-day Italian village at the Optus Stadium precinct; Casa Sicilia, Palermo FC's home away from home in Fremantle; official club pre-match parties at Crown Perth; 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.

Little Italy Festival

Image credit: Little Italy Perth | Instagram

Optus Stadium's Stadium Park will transform into Little Italy for five days, with a free, immersive Italian village popping up in Burswood from Wednesday 5 to Sunday 9 August. Expect live entertainment, roaming performers, cultural showcases and family-friendly activities, all wrapped around the AC Milan v Inter and Inter v Juventus match days.

Food is the heart of it, with a serious line-up of local Italian favourites including pasta from Gnocchi Boys and Pasta & Fagioli, arancini from Arancini Man and Antichi Sapori, focaccia from Divoro, gelato from Antica Gelataria and Gelavita, and dolci from Pane & Dolce, plus a licensed bar run by the WA Italian Club.

If you're after something a little more special, the ticketed Long Table Dinner by Mizzica Mangiatoria x Cibo will take over a heated marquee at BHP Amphitheatre on Thursday 6 and Friday 7 August, bringing together the likes of Kilo Bakery, La Delizia and Princi for one shared table, one big night of Italian food, wine and live music.

Entry to the festival precinct is free (a match ticket is only needed if you're heading into the stadium itself), and it'll wrap up with a Family Sunday on 9 August, running alongside West Coast Eagles v Collingwood next door.

Casa Sicilia at Gage Roads

Image credit: Calcio Italiano | Supplied

Over in Fremantle, Gage Roads Brew Co will become Palermo FC's official home away from home for the club's first-ever Australian tour. From Wednesday 5 to Monday 10 August, the waterfront venue will transform into Casa Sicilia, hosting four public nights of football, Sicilian food and culture, live entertainment and supporter experiences.

The program kicks off with a welcome celebration featuring Palermo FC legends, followed by the launch of the club's citrus-blossom-inspired Zagara Kit (complete with a live cooking demo from a guest chef), a big fan night built around Italian music and a screening of Inter v Juventus, and a community closing night to wrap up the week. Costa Speciale, Gage Roads' own Italian pilsner, will be flowing throughout.

It's a fitting home base too, Fremantle has long been a stronghold for WA's Sicilian and Italian community, and Casa Sicilia is set to give supporters a proper taste of the Rosanero's identity beyond the stadium.

Crown Perth Pre-Match Parties

Image credit: Calcio Italiano | Supplied

As the Official Presenting Partner of Calcio Italiano, Crown Perth will host its own string of supporter events at The Merrywell and Crown Sports Bar. Things kick off with the Official AC Milan Pre-Match Party and March from 3pm on Wednesday 5 August, complete with live DJ entertainment, face painting, giveaways and appearances from AC Milan Legends, before fans march together to Optus Stadium ahead of kick-off.

Juventus fans get their turn on Saturday 8 August from 3.30pm, with a pre-match party of their own at The Merrywell featuring Juventus Legends. Then on Monday 10 August from 5.30pm, Crown Sports Bar will host an exclusive Q&A with players from Juventus and Palermo, a rare chance to hear directly from the stars themselves.