WHEN you think of football stadiums today, you’ll probably think of huge crowds in Europe or Brazil. But the birthplace of football – or soccer – is actually in China, and it’s about to get a 21st Century makeover.

The Xi’an International Football Centre is unlike anything you’ve seen before, blending traditional Chinese architecture with a futuristic parametric design to create something that’s almost spaceage. Set to complete in 2023, the new complex will be ready just in time to host the AFC Asian Cup.

But this is more than just a stadium. It’s a new landmark in an historic city that could change its trajectory.

  • DankZedong
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    2 years ago

    It’s good to see China enter the football world stage. I can imagine that a country as big as China can do some great things if the game gets going over there.

    That being said, I never like modern stadiums lol. As a football puritan that supports a proper working class club I reject modernity in football (not to be confused with equality, racism, homophobia etc. I do embrace change in these things). But that’s a matter of taste.

    Good luck China.

    • Soviet Snake
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      102 years ago

      It is still a few years behind, though, they did not do very well in the clasifications for the world cup and they were competing in Asia, a continent which in general does not have very good futbol. They would be oblitersted against Argentina or Brazil, lol. Still I am sure in 5 years or so they will improve a lot.