China could do with some positive coverage given recent events, and we’re only happy to oblige following the unveiling of plans for a new stadium for Chinese Super League team Guangzhou Evergrande. Due to be completed by 2022, the new structure is set be the largest football-only stadium in the world.

The new unnamed Guangzhou Evergrande stadium will play host to 100,000 seats as well as 168 VIP boxes, making it one of the largest sporting arenas anywhere on the planet. Designed by Shanghai-based, American architect Hasan Syed, its design comes in the form of a giant lotus flower which is said to be inspired by Guangzhou’s nickname as China’s ‘Flower City’.

Not only will the home of Guangzhou Evergrande become the largest football-only stadium in the world (overtaking Barcelona’s Camp Nou), it’s also set to become the fourth largest overall stadium in the world. Only the Rungrado 1st May Stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea, Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground have bigger capacities.

Guangzhou Evergrande Flower City Football Stadium 2

If we’re honest, it will take a lot of effort to fill the 100,000 seats each home game. Guangzhou Evergrande averaged around 45,000 fans in their current 60,000 capacity stadium last season. That said, the design itself is impressive and the club will be hoping to attract some new fans through curiosity if nothing else.

Guangzhou Evergrande’s new stadium is set to cost around £1.37 billion to build and won’t be complete until at least the end of 2022. We’d expect a World Club Championship announcement in China soon after…

Guangzhou Evergrande Flower City Football Stadium 1
Guangzhou Evergrande Flower City Football Stadium 4

Assuming it still goes ahead – and we do appreciate that is a big ‘if’ should recent reports be believed – the 2022 World Cup Final is set to take place in the 80,000-seater Lusail Stadium. Designed by Foster + Partners, take a look at the stadium here.