Two of Italian football’s fiercest rivals meet Saturday when Juventus takes on Inter Milan in a preseason friendly at Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia, giving both clubs one final high-profile test before their domestic campaigns begin later this month.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. local time in Perth, which translates to 1 p.m. in Italy and across most of continental Europe, noon in the United Kingdom, and 7 a.m. Eastern time, 6 a.m. Central time, and 4 a.m. Pacific time in the United States.

How to Watch in the United States

Fans in the United States can follow the match live on Prime Video, Paramount+ and CBS Sports Golazo Network. No traditional linear television broadcast has been confirmed for the match domestically, meaning viewers will need to access one of those streaming platforms to watch, whether through an existing subscription or a trial offering where available.

How to Watch in Australia

For fans watching from within Australia, where the match is actually being played, the game will be shown free of charge on 7plus, which provides a live HD stream accessible to viewers across the country without requiring a paid subscription.

How to Watch Elsewhere

Juventus is also streaming the match through its own official channels, with kickoff listed at 1 p.m. CEST on the club’s video platform for fans in Italy and across Europe. Viewers outside regions with confirmed broadcast partners are generally advised that official match coverage, including confirmed TV listings and streaming rights holders, can typically be found through international sports broadcast aggregators, which compile authorized viewing options by country ahead of kickoff.

A Historic Rivalry Renewed Down Under

Saturday’s meeting marks the latest chapter in the long-running rivalry between Juventus and Inter Milan, a fixture historically nicknamed the Derby d’Italia given the two clubs’ combined dominance of Italian football over the decades. This particular meeting carries no domestic points or trophies at stake, serving instead as a valuable measuring stick for both squads as they wrap up their preseason preparations.

The two sides last met competitively on Feb. 14, 2026, when Inter Milan defeated Juventus 3-2 in Serie A. Looking at their broader recent head-to-head history, the last five meetings between the clubs have been closely contested, with Juventus winning twice, Inter winning twice, and one match ending in a draw, producing a combined 22 goals across those five encounters. The most dramatic of those recent meetings came in October 2024, when the two sides played out a wild 4-4 draw at the San Siro.

Juventus Enters on Strong Form

Juventus head into Saturday’s match under manager Luciano Spalletti following a disappointing sixth-place finish in Serie A last season, a result that fell well short of the club’s usual expectations. Despite that underwhelming domestic campaign, Juventus have enjoyed a strong preseason, entering Saturday’s match unbeaten across their preseason tour and having kept four consecutive clean sheets. Their most recent outing was a 1-0 victory over Chelsea in Hong Kong, with Edon Zhegrova scoring the match’s only goal.

Inter Milan Arrives as Reigning Champions

Inter Milan, by contrast, enter the friendly as the reigning Serie A and Coppa Italia champions after completing a domestic double last season under manager Cristian Chivu. Inter have taken four points from their last three preseason matches, defeating Manchester City and Karlsruher SC before playing to a 1-1 draw against local rivals AC Milan on Aug. 5, with Federico Dimarco scoring Inter’s goal in that match.

Squad News and Absences

Both clubs are managing rosters still not at full strength given the timing of the match relative to the recent FIFA World Cup and players’ subsequent rest schedules. Inter Milan will be without key forwards Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram, who did not travel to Australia because of their late rest schedules following the tournament. Chivu is expected to use the match primarily to continue integrating younger players and evaluating squad depth ahead of the new season.

For Juventus, expected starters include goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio behind a back line of Pierre Kalulu, Gleison Bremer, Lloyd Kelly and Andrea Cambiaso, with Douglas Luiz and Manuel Locatelli anchoring midfield, and an attacking trio of Zhegrova, Weston McKennie and Kenan Yildiz supporting striker Jonathan David. Juventus’ bench options include Teun Koopmeiners and Francisco Conceicao among other squad depth pieces.

Part of a Broader Preseason Tour

Saturday’s match is part of a larger Australian leg of preseason friendlies for both clubs, which follow earlier stops elsewhere in Asia and Europe. Juventus opened their summer tour with matches in Hong Kong before continuing on to Perth, while Inter Milan has similarly used the Australian swing to face both Manchester City and cross-city rival AC Milan in the days leading up to Saturday’s meeting.

A Preview of the Season Ahead

While Saturday’s result carries no bearing on the 2026-27 Serie A standings, the match offers both managers a valuable opportunity to assess squad chemistry and player fitness before their domestic campaigns begin in earnest later this month. For Spalletti, continuing Juventus’ unbeaten preseason run against elite opposition would offer an encouraging signal after last season’s disappointing finish, while a strong showing from Inter would reinforce the champions’ status as the team to beat heading into the new campaign.

Following Saturday’s friendly, both clubs are expected to wrap up their remaining preseason fixtures before shifting focus fully toward their opening domestic matches. Fans looking to follow the match across any platform are encouraged to confirm regional streaming access ahead of kickoff, given the early morning start time facing viewers in North America and the range of country-specific broadcast rights holders covering the fixture worldwide.

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ROSARIO, Argentina — Jorge Messi, the father and longtime business representative of Argentine soccer icon Lionel Messi, died Friday night at a clinic in his native Rosario after a prolonged illness, according to multiple Argentine media outlets. He was 68.

Reports from outlets including Infobae indicated Jorge Messi passed away around 10 p.m. local time. An official cause of death had not been confirmed by the Messi family as of Saturday. He is survived by his wife, Celia, sons Lionel, Rodrigo and Matias, daughter Maria Sol, and a number of grandchildren.

A Health Struggle That Played Out Publicly

Jorge Messi’s declining health first drew widespread public attention during the World Cup, when Lionel Messi was seen visibly emotional on the field, including after scoring against Algeria. Asked about the tears, Messi told reporters at the time, “Why was I crying? It had absolutely nothing to do with football. I have had a few difficult days.” His remarks quickly sparked speculation linking the emotion to his father’s condition.

Days later, the Messi family issued a public statement addressing the situation directly. “The Messi family wishes to inform you that Jorge Messi is currently dealing with health problems,” the statement began. “He is currently under medical supervision and is recovering well.” The family went on to express concern over the intensity of the speculation, writing, “Given the reports, rumours and speculation that have been circulating in recent hours, the family wishes to express its deep concern about the lack of sensitivity,” while asking that “the privacy, confidentiality and personal space of Jorge – and that of his entire family – be respected throughout this process.”

A separate statement issued in the following weeks said Jorge had been “under medical monitoring, recovering and evolving favorably within the condition he presents.” In late July, Lionel Messi skipped Major League Soccer’s All-Star Game, a decision widely believed to be tied to a visit with his father, before returning to action for Inter Miami in an MLS match days later.

The Man Who Took Messi to Barcelona

Jorge Messi’s influence on his son’s career is difficult to overstate. When a young Lionel was coming up through the youth academy at Newell’s Old Boys in Rosario, he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency requiring costly treatment. After failing to secure sufficient financial support in Argentina, including from Newell’s and River Plate, Jorge explored options abroad, ultimately taking his son to try out for FC Barcelona.

That trial led to one of the most famous moments in the club’s history: an agreement scribbled on a paper napkin with then-Barcelona sporting director Carles Rexach on Dec. 14, 2000, at the Pompeia Tennis Club, committing the club to sign the 13-year-old Messi and fund his medical treatment. The move to Spain, made possible directly by Jorge’s determination to find his son a path forward, is widely regarded as one of the most consequential decisions in the history of the sport.

Staying by His Son’s Side During a Difficult Transition

Messi was just 13 when the family relocated to Spain, a transition that proved difficult for several family members who struggled to adjust to life away from Argentina. Jorge remained by his son’s side throughout that period, providing stability during a stretch when Messi’s future in the sport was still far from guaranteed. Messi has spoken previously about how emotionally taxing that time was for both of them, recalling that there were days when he and his father each struggled deeply and would retreat separately to cry so the other would not see it. “My father was always by my side,” Messi has said, describing how Jorge repeatedly checked in with him, asking whether he wanted to continue pursuing his dream in Spain or return home to Argentina. Messi chose to stay.

A Behind-the-Scenes Presence for Decades

Despite managing the business affairs of arguably the most recognizable athlete on the planet, Jorge Messi consistently preferred to remain out of the spotlight, giving few interviews over the years and generally avoiding the intense media attention that followed his son throughout his career. He served for decades as Lionel Messi’s agent and financial representative, a role that placed him at the center of many of the most significant decisions in his son’s professional life, from contract negotiations to the eventual move to Paris Saint-Germain and later to Inter Miami.

That behind-the-scenes role was not without controversy. In 2016, Spanish prosecutors sought an 18-month prison sentence and a fine against Jorge Messi for allegedly defrauding Spain’s tax authorities of approximately 4.5 million dollars in unpaid taxes between 2007 and 2009, a case that also named Lionel Messi before prosecutors ultimately cleared the player of wrongdoing.

Tributes Expected From Across the Football World

Given Jorge Messi’s decades-long presence alongside one of the most celebrated athletes in the history of the sport, tributes from clubs, players and football institutions across the world are expected in the days following his death. His passing comes at a moment when Lionel Messi remains an active professional player with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, having recently contributed a goal and an assist in a match against San Luis just days before his father’s death.

Funeral arrangements had not been publicly announced as of Saturday. Given Jorge Messi’s central and enduring role in shaping his son’s rise from a young prospect in Rosario to one of the greatest players in the history of football, his death is expected to prompt an outpouring of tributes from across the sport in the coming days, even as the family has continued to ask, as it did earlier this year during his illness, that its privacy be respected during this period of grief.