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.