Milan plans its summer: four high-profile friendlies
AC Milan have mapped out their 2026 summer programme, with four official pre-season friendlies already confirmed against top-level international opponents. A pre-season that promises excitement, featuring clashes against Premier League clubs, a classic of European football, and the ever-thrilling derby against Inter. The Rossoneri will travel the world to prepare for the new season, with stops in Scotland, Australia, Indonesia and Poland.
The full friendly schedule
Here is AC Milan’s confirmed pre-season fixture list for summer 2026:
- 25 July — Glasgow, Scotland 🏴 | Celtic vs AC Milan
- 5 August — Australia 🇦🇺 | Inter vs AC Milan (Derby)
- 8 August — Indonesia 🇮🇩 | Chelsea vs AC Milan
- 15 August — Poland 🇵🇱 | Manchester United vs AC Milan
The Celtic fixture: a journey through history
The match against Celtic, scheduled for 25 July in Glasgow, is arguably the most evocative fixture of the entire pre-season. The legendary Celtic Park is one of Europe’s loudest and most atmospheric stadiums, and a Scottish summer evening promises to be a fascinating test for the Milanello squad. The game brings back memories of Champions League battles fought between the two clubs in past years — those European nights when a generational talent like Ricardo Kaká dazzled the continent in the famous Rossoneri shirt.
The derby in Australia and the English clashes
On 5 August, one of the most anticipated fixtures for fans around the world: the Milan–Inter derby, this time staged in Australia. A match that turns a city rivalry into a global event, capable of igniting passion in football fans on the other side of the planet.
Three days later, on 8 August, Milan face Chelsea in Indonesia, in what promises to be a technically impressive showdown. Finally, on 15 August, the Rossoneri take on Manchester United in Poland, in what will likely be the last major test before the competitive season gets underway.
Serie A opener: it starts with Abate’s Torino
After the international tour, Milan will need to be fully ready for the start of the 2026/27 Serie A season. Their first league opponent will be Torino, managed by Ignazio Abate — a former Rossoneri player and also a one-time coach of the Milan Primavera side. A fixture loaded with meaning, blending nostalgia with new-found rivalry. The season opener is expected between 26 and 27 August.
Abate, having also gained experience on the bench of Juve Stabia, has earned the Torino head coaching job and is set to face his former club from an entirely new perspective. A debut that is already shaping up to be emotionally charged for supporters on both sides.
Further unofficial friendly matches or training sessions at Milanello may yet be added to the calendar, but the pre-season programme as it stands is already of excellent quality — and underlines the club’s ambition to grow its brand on a truly global scale.
