Shanghai (AFP)
Global Goal? In China, billions of euros are invested in new football stadiums, with the ambition to make the country a superpower for the football and to host a World Cup, perhaps as early as 2030.
A construction frenzy not very sensitive to the current Covid-19 epidemic, which paralyzes a large part of the world, devastates economies and has led to the suspension of the majority of sports competitions.
But with the improvement of the sanitary situation in China, the defending champion, the Guangzhou Evergrande, started last week the construction of a new stadium of 12 billion yuan (1.6 billion euros).
With a capacity of 100,000 places, this future enclosure in the shape of a lotus flower should one time become the largest in the world dedicated to football - in front of the Camp Nou in Barcelona - when it is delivered by the end of 2022.
Real estate developer Evergrande, founded by one of the richest men in China, also said he wanted to build two other stadiums with 80,000 seats.
The country should thus have at least 12 new large football arenas in two years, counted the official daily newspaper Southern Metropolis Daily, welcoming "a new era" for the Chinese round ball.
Most of these arenas will be used for the 2021 Club World Cup and the 2023 Asian Nations Cup. But Chinese President Xi Jinping is looking to an even more prestigious competition.
- Big titles -
"I think China's willingness to bid for the World Cup is very clear," said Ji Yuyang, a reporter for the Oriental Sports Daily.
For him, the question is not whether the country will file a file or not. But when.
Fifa President Gianni Infantino said in June that he would be delighted with a Chinese bid for the 2030 World Cup - the next one to be awarded.
The future new stadium in Guangzhou Evergrande has made headlines in the international press due to its immense capacity and unorthodox architecture.
In addition, the announcement of its construction detonates, at a time when the sport is almost completely stopped and when the economies of many countries, including China, are suffering because of the Covid-19.
Many wonder, however, why a club with an average home crowd of 50,000 spectators needs such a gigantic venue.
"I think Evergrande has two things in mind. Already, a 100,000-seat stadium could be useful if China is hosting a World Cup opening final or ceremony," said Ji Yuyang.
"And then, they will be able to boast of having the largest professional football enclosure in the world."
- 'Soft power' -
Most of the stadiums currently used by Chinese clubs are multi-sports, that is, an athletics track is located between the lawn and the stands.
Replacing these often dilapidated enclosures with brand new arenas dedicated solely to football goes perfectly with Xi Jinping's desire to make football a national sporting priority.
In Shanghai, which has the ambition to host the Olympic Games, a 33,000-seat stadium must be delivered in 2021 for the city's big club: the SIPG, in which the Brazilians Oscar and Hulk play in particular.
According to Ji Yuyang, the Evergrande group probably pays out of its own pocket for all three new stadiums, but the other projects in progress are generally the subject of public-private co-financing.
For Simon Chadwick, director of Eurasian Sports at the Lyon School of Management, China also wants to show through these new sports arenas "that it is growing" and "is getting stronger".
"The Guangzhou Evergrande stadium will be huge, with incredible architecture that leaves its mark. The photos have been seen all over the world and are causing discussion," he said, speaking of "soft power of the stadiums".
"China is trying to use these very special speakers to attract people and attention, and also to make it clear that China, ultimately, wants to have the same things as other countries."
© 2020 AFP