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The Dubai Government has launched a design competition to design a 60,000-seat stadium that will be built to stage matches for the 2019 Asian Cup.

The Dubai Government’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has been given the remit to build the stadium, with a selected group of architects, engineers and consultants invited to submit applications for the design competition has not been made public.

The stadium will be built in or near Dubai Sports City, which is already home to a 25,000 capacity cricket stadium that is also expected to host matches for the Asian Cup.

The 2019 Asian Cup matches are expected to be played in the United Arab Emirates capital of Abu Dhabi, as well as Dubai and Al Ain. Each city is likely to use two stadiums, as Asian Football Confederation (AFC) regulations state that a minimum of six stadiums should be used by the host nation.

The rights to hold the tournament were awarded to the UAE in March after the AFC rejected a rival proposal from Iran.

24 nations will compete in the Asian Cup, which was won by Australia in 2015.

Winning the rights to host the Asian Cup in 2015 was the catalyst to restart plans for the 60,000-seater stadium in Dubai, after original plans were shelved in 2009.

In 2007, a design and construction contract was awarded for two stadiums – a 60,000 capacity outdoor venue, and a 10,000 capacity indoor venue.

At the time the contract was valued at US$225.97 million.

Abu Dhabi has the 43,000 Zayed Sports City stadium and the 42,000-seater Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium. The former was the venue for the final of the 1996 Asian Cup, the last time the UAE hosted the tournament.

Either could host the latter stages of the 2019 tournament – with the AFC’s minimum ground capacity for the semi-finals, finals and opening match being 40,000.

The UAE will also stage the 2017 and 2018 editions of the FIFA Club World Cup.

12th March 2015 - UAE TO HOST 2019 AFC ASIAN CUP

12th March 2014 - DUBAI PLANS TO BUILD NEW 60,000-SEAT STADIUM IN ASIAN CUP BID

17th February 2010 - BIDS SOUGHT FOR $1 BILLION ABU DHABI FOOTBALL STADIUM

23rd April 2009 - CRICKET STADIUM OPENS AT DUBAI SPORTS CITY

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