AC Milan is delighted to announce that the First Men’s Team will travel to Australia at the end of May to play a friendly match against AS Roma in Perth.
Scheduled for Friday 31 May in Perth, Western Australia, the match will unfold at Optus Stadium, a state-of-the-art multi-purpose venue capable of accommodating up to 65,000 spectators.
Marking the first encounter between two Serie A teams on Australian soil, this match is bolstered by 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, commented: “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, added: “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.
This forthcoming trip signifies AC Milan’s return to Australia after almost 30 years, with the last visit being in 1993, when the Rossoneri played two friendly games against the Australia national team in Sydney and Melbourne led by then Captain Franco Baresi.
Reflecting on the memories of that journey, AC Milan Honorary Vice-President Franco 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, AC Milan maintains a robust bond with the country, boasting a passionate fanbase exceeding 2 million people and several active Fan Clubs in pivotal cities such as Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide. Across the broader Asian-Pacific region, AC Milan is the most followed Italian football club and it has the most growing fanbase, gaining 20 million fans in the last couple of years.
AC Milan has a robust history of interacting with its fanbase and engaging Australian football enthusiasts, particularly among younger demographics. From 2007 to 2018, the Club hosted a series of Milan Junior Camps nationwide, fostering grassroots talent and sharing the Rossoneri's values with aspiring young players.
The connection between AC Milan and Australia goes beyond the football pitch, with the Rossoneri’s NGO Fondazione 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.
The presence in a territory such as Australia will provide the Club with an opportunity to continue the growth path of the Club off the pitch and to strengthen the positive perception of the AC Milan brand at an international level.
Source: AC Milan
