Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Soccer legend expected to head to Perth for AC Milan exhibition match at HBF Park

Swedish soccer legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic is expected to be part of the AC Milan contingent that visits Perth later this month when the glamour side takes on Perth Glory at HBF Park. The hugely popular former striker retired from AC Milan in 2023, but still holds an advisory role. He was part of the AC Milan contingent that came to Perth last year, when the Italian side took on AS Roma at Optus in an exhibition match. A video Ibrahimovic posted of himself and a koala at Caversham Wildlife Park during that 2024 visit to Perth to his 63 million followers went viral. “Perth is Australia’s gateway to Italy and we’re quickly becoming AC Milan’s home away from home,” Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti said. “AC Milan is one of the most followed sporting clubs on the planet, and their presence is helping put our State on the map with so many of their fans around the world. “There is huge excitement building for AC Milan’s second visit to Western Australia, and we’re hearing from AC Milan supporter clubs around the country, who will be coming to WA for the game. AC Milan plays Perth Glory on July 31 as part of their 2025 Asia-Pacific pre-season tour. The Rossoneri, as they are known, will land in Perth a week before the game, meaning the club will be based in WA for nearly a week. The Italian Club in North Perth is expected to play host to both local and travelling fans, with a number of events planned across the week. This includes hundreds of supporters marching from the Italian Club’s Fitzgerald Street location to HBF Park for the big game. Last time AC Milan played a game in Perth, it drew 7,500 people from interstate and overseas. Fans will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with the players, with an open training session planned for the day before the game. Organisers have confirmed a section of the HBF Park precinct will be transformed into a pop-up Italian Village during the match, offering traditional Italian food, a spritz bar, roaming entertainment and DJ, as well as club merchandise and community football activations, which will kick off from 4.45pm when gates open. Kick off is 6.20pm. “This match is going to be massive for local and travelling football fans with Perth the only place to watch AC Milan in Australia this year,” Tourism Minister Reece Whitby said. “Our city is set to come alive as our State welcomes back football giants AC Milan putting Western Australia on the map as a world-class destination for sports and tourism. “Visitors from interstate and overseas are set to travel to WA, just another example of our State’s economic diversification strategy in attracting major events and injecting millions of dollars into our economy. “The Italian Village is the latest instalment in our State’s strategy of festivalising sporting events to deliver an elevated fan experience for all involved, and I’m looking forward to seeing it deliver a celebration of Italy’s vibrant culture through food, music, club merchandise and community football.”