AC Milan have officially announced that the men’s first team will travel to Australia at the end of May to play a friendly match against AS Roma in Perth.
As the official website confirms, the game is schedule for Friday 31 May in Perth, Western Australia and it will take place at Optus Stadium, a modern stadium that hosts cricket and Australian Rules Football matches with a 65,000 capacity.
It will of course be the first encounter between two Serie A teams on Australian soil and the game has the support of the Government of Western Australia, underscoring their ongoing dedication to fostering connections with Italy and captivating football enthusiasts globally.
Roger Cook, Premier of Western Australia: “Hosting a match between AC Milan and AS Roma here in Perth is a fantastic opportunity for us to strengthen our ties with Italy and invite football fans from our key tourism markets to come and explore our beautiful, diverse state as part of a trip here to see this football match.”
Giorgio Furlani, CEO of AC Milan: “The opportunity to return to Australia is incredibly exciting for AC Milan. We are proud to have been chosen with AS Roma and are therefore grateful to the Government of Western Australia for the invitation.
“Our presence in the country not only signifies our commitment to our international fanbase, but also serves as a testament to our dedication to staying closer to our family of supporters across the globe, fostering a deeper connection and sense of belonging within our global AC Milan community.”
Exclusive pre-sale tickets will be accessible starting on Tuesday 12 March, followed by general public ticket availability on Thursday 14 March via Ticketmaster Australia.
Milan have not played in Australia for almost 30 years with the last visit being in 1993. That time the Rossoneri played two friendly games against the Australian national team in Sydney and Melbourne, with captain Franco Baresi leading the side.
The current Honorary Vice-President Baresi said: “I am excited to go back to Australia. The 1993 tour with AC Milan holds a special place in my heart as it marked my first visit to Australia.
“It is a beautiful country and I was captivated by the charm of Sydney and Melbourne. I am now eager to explore a new city and region of this splendid country during our upcoming trip in May.”
Despite the long absence from Australia, Milan maintains a robust bond with the country, boasting a passionate fanbase exceeding two million people and several active Fan Clubs in pivotal cities such as Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide.
Across the broader Asian-Pacific region, Milan are the most followed Italian football club and it has the most growing fanbase, gaining 20 million fans in the last couple of years.
The connection between Milan and Australia goes beyond the football pitch, with the Rossoneri’s NGOFondazione Milan supporting the Centre for Multicultural Youth’s ‘Welcome Football’ project in Melbourne.
This initiative, which merges sports and education, is dedicated to children from migrant backgrounds and it aims to use the universal language of football and sport to accompany them in their integration process and to promote greater social cohesion and participation in the life of their new community.
