Xi’an International Football Center: A Landmark of Modern Sports Architecture in China

The Xi’an International Football Center stands as a new icon in China’s sporting landscape, designed collaboratively by Zaha Hadid Architects, iDEA, and Arcplus Institute of Shanghai Architectural Design & Research. Completed in 2025, this 251,000 m² stadium is a testament to innovative architecture, engineering excellence, and the promotion of football at all levels across China. With its 60,000-seat capacity, the stadium hosted its inaugural international matches featuring China’s National U-23 team against Australia, Timor-Leste, and Northern Mariana Islands in the Group D qualifiers for the 2026 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.

Strategically located within Xi’an’s Fengdong district and connected to Line 16 of the city’s expanding metro network, the football center integrates seamlessly into the urban grid. Its open façades welcome the city into the heart of the stadium, offering public spaces, recreational areas, dining facilities, and terraces accessible year-round. South-facing terraces provide panoramic city views while serving spectators during matches, cultural performances, and other events, fostering a sense of community and engagement.

The stadium’s design merges cutting-edge architectural innovation with sustainability. Its fluid, saddle-shaped geometry minimizes the impact of northern winter winds while maximizing spectator seating around the midfield. The ultra-lightweight long-span cable-net roof reduces structural load and embodied carbon by minimizing material use. Wide perimeter overhangs, shaded terraces, and open-air public concourses ensure comfort even during Xi’an’s hot summers.

A translucent membrane supported by the tensioned cable-net structure protects spectators from harsh sunlight and inclement weather while allowing optimal natural light to reach the pitch, promoting healthy grass growth and premium playing conditions. Digital modeling refined the seating bowl geometry, ensuring that every one of the 60,000 seats offers an exceptional view, enhancing the spectator experience and energizing match atmospheres.

More than a stadium, the Xi’an International Football Center reflects China’s ambition to advance football from grassroots programs to professional leagues. It nurtures youth academies, community football programs, and international competitions, creating a unifying space for sport and civic life. Located in Xi’an, the historic eastern terminus of the Silk Road, the stadium continues the city’s legacy of welcoming global visitors while establishing a modern landmark for sports, recreation, and urban engagement for its nine million residents.

All photographs are works of Hufton+Crow