For the first time in its history, Palermo FC is preparing to travel to Australia for a tour of Western Australia that will bring together football, identity and a deep connection to place, as part of Calcio Italiano in Perth, the festival celebrating the best of Italian football in Western Australia.
The Rosanero club’s mission is to build a bridge between Palermo, Sicily and the thousands of people living in Western Australia who continue to maintain a strong connection with their roots. This initiative is aimed not only at Palermo supporters, but at the wider Sicilian and Italo-Australian community: migrant families, new generations born in Australia, and everyone who continues to identify with the values, colours and traditions of Sicily. Palermo will arrive in Australia not only as a football team, but as a symbol of belonging and an ambassador for a contemporary Sicily capable of bringing together sport, culture, creativity, flavour and hospitality.
During the tour, the team will take part in two prestigious fixtures in Perth: the Anglo-Palermitan Trophy against Melbourne City on 7 August at the Sam Kerr Football Centre, and the match against Juventus on 11 August at HBF Stadium. Alongside the matches, the Club will deliver a program of activities for families, young footballers, supporters and local communities, combining sporting events, appearances by Rosanero figures, entertainment, and cultural and social initiatives.
On Sunday 9 August, Palermo PC will also headline the Calcio Italiano Fremantle Festa Siciliana at Fremantle Oval, delivered in partnership with the City of Fremantle, Tourism Western Australia and Fremantle City Football Club. The free community event will celebrate the game at grassroots level, bringing together junior players, families and football fans for a morning of football and Italian culture. Supporters will have the opportunity to meet the Palermo FC squad and see club legends up close, enjoy community activities in one of Western Australia’s most iconic sporting venues.
At the heart of Palermo’s Australian campaign will be Casa Sicilia, the Club’s temporary hub hosted at Gage Roads on the Fremantle waterfront, from 5th to 10th August.
The choice of Fremantle is no coincidence. The city is historically linked to the first Sicilian settlements in Western Australia, and to this day the legacy of Sicilian culture remains deeply embedded in family histories, social ties, traditions and community life.
Over several days, Casa Sicilia will become a genuine meeting place for the community: an open, recognisable and engaging space where people can experience the spirit of Sicily through football, music, food, storytelling and shared moments.
It will not simply be an event venue, but a home away from home. A place where visitors will be able to meet Club representatives, starting with Head Coach Filippo Inzaghi, a champion of Italy’s 2006 FIFA World Cup-winning team, as well as first-team players and some of Palermo’s greatest legends, including Amauri and Fabrizio Miccoli. It will be a special space for interactive experiences, live entertainment, Sicilian-inspired food and products, and the sharing of family stories that, over generations, have built a lasting bond between Sicily and Australia.
Supported by Tourims WA, the City of Fremantle will turn pink to welcome Palermo FC and celebrate the enduring connection between Western Australia, Palermo and Sicily. City-wide dressing and activations will transform Fremantle into a vibrant Rosanero destination, creating a memorable experience for visitors and the local community alike.
Each day, Casa Sicilia will offer a different experience, with live music, DJ sets, talks, public activities, meet-and-greets, tastings, special content and opportunities for the community to come together. A strong focus will also be placed on telling the story of Sicilian identity and on the voices of Australians of Italian and Sicilian heritage, who will be invited to share memories, photographs and family stories.
Among the most distinctive experiences will also be initiatives celebrating the colours, aromas and excellence of the island, with installations and immersive moments inspired by Sicilian citrus and Palermo’s unique identity. Visitors will also find an area dedicated to Rosanero merchandise, photo opportunities, games and installations designed to engage both adults and children.
Casa Sicilia will therefore be a must-visit destination for anyone wanting to experience the tour up close: not only to attend events, but to actively take part in a major collective celebration dedicated to Sicily and its bond with Western Australia.
Through this campaign, Palermo FC aims to leave a legacy that will continue beyond the end of the tour: new relationships with associations, institutions, football academies and local businesses, an even more united Australian Rosanero community, and an ongoing dialogue between Palermo and Western Australia.
For one week, Palermo, Perth and Fremantle will feel closer than ever. Not only through football, but through people, stories and that sense of belonging which travels across oceans and generations.
Whether you’re a lifelong Palermo supporter, proud of your sicilian heritage, or simply love football, everyone is invited to experience Fremantle’s week of activities.