On Sunday, August 2, 2026, at 8:00 PM, the renovated “Antonino Cardinale” Municipal Stadium in Capaci (Palermo province) will officially open its doors with a major event dedicated to sport and solidarity: the inaugural “Mike Morra Trophy,” an international triangular tournament organized by Athletic Club Palermo. The tournament is named after the founder of Escort Advisor—Europe’s leading escort review site—and the creator of the “Sponsorizza Passioni” (Sponsor Passions) project, an initiative launched to support Italians’ sporting passions and foster the growth of clubs and athletes.
Through this initiative, Escort Advisor has been supporting Athletic Club Palermo’s sporting journey for three seasons—a path that has included a historic promotion to Serie D and an impressive campaign as a newly promoted side. Competing for the inaugural “Mike Morra Trophy by Escort Advisor” will be the hosts, Athletic Club Palermo; Messina; and the Spanish team Arandina Club de Fútbol—a historic club from Castile and León that brings an international dimension to the event. The tournament format consists of three 45-minute mini-matches played on the same evening, with the first kick-off scheduled for 8:00 PM. The entire tournament will be broadcast live on Sunday, August 2, on Sportitalia’s *Solo Calcio* channel, with a delayed broadcast airing on Sportitalia on Monday, August 3.
Adding further prestige to the event will be big names from Italian football providing commentary on the action. The audience will have the chance to see Alessio Tacchinardi, Simone Barone, and Cristian Zaccardo—all key members of the Italian national team that won the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Barone and Zaccardo also share a special connection to Sicily, having played for Palermo during their careers. Tacchinardi played for Juventus—enjoying his most successful spell there between 1994 and 2005—as well as for Villarreal in Spain. Another guest in attendance will be Sergio Zanetti, brother of Javier Zanetti, the former Argentine international and current vice-president of Inter Milan.
The evening will be hosted by sports journalist Anna Maria Baccaro, joined by Gianmarco Pone, a journalist and sports commentator. Baccaro is a familiar face on Italian television; throughout her career, she has worked with Rai as a presenter and pundit—appearing on *La Domenica Sportiva*—and hosted *Tribuna Tik Tok*, the official program of the Lega Serie A. Gianmarco Pone is a football content creator with over ten years of experience. He hosts *Mundialito* on Sportitalia, a program dedicated to international football, and works as a commentator for Zeta Future.
The event also has a significant charitable purpose. For the second consecutive year, Athletic Club Palermo and Escort Advisor will donate the net proceeds from ticket sales to the Francesco Foresta OdV Association. This organization supports families of cancer patients who have traveled from out of town for treatment at the “La Maddalena” Hospital in Palermo, providing hospitality services designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with medical travel. It is yet another reason to attend an evening that combines entertainment, sport, and solidarity. Tickets can be purchased at the stadium for a nominal fee of €2; gates open at 6:30 PM. For one night, the new “Antonino Cardinale” stadium will host a celebration looking toward the future, honoring the most authentic values of sport: passion, community, and solidarity.
