08 January 2015 - When kick-off commences between Australia and Kuwait at Melbourne's AAMI Park tonight, Friday 09 January, match spectators will be the first to enjoy the first of five world class stadiums selected to host the 2015 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup, including two venues Aurecon has helped deliver.

Joining the award-winning AAMI Park (renamed the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium for the duration of the tournament), Newcastle's Hunter Stadium, also known as the Newcastle International Sports Centre, will collectively host 11 matches.

Throughout the 23 day competition, 16 teams will rival one another for champion honours as Asia – Pacific's preeminent football tournament tours Australia's eastern seaboard for the first time with matches to be held in Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Newcastle and Sydney.

"Football is a much adored, fan-favourite game and it's fantastic to see how it has been embraced across the country," says Aurecon Sports and Entertainment Leader, Professor Kourosh Kayvani.

"Australian's are sports and entertainment loving people and we have invested greatly in building some seriously enviable stadiums. It's time to show off what we have and share it with the world."

Aurecon has delivered a commanding portfolio of global stadium's including England's Wembley Stadium, China's TEDA Soccer Stadium and Australia's Melbourne Cricket Ground and Adelaide Oval.

Impressively, the Peter Mokaba Sporting Complex and the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, purpose-built by Aurecon, garnered formidable spectator and industry praise during the 2010 FIFA World Cup hosted in South Africa.

"We're extremely proud to have contributed to the success that AAMI Park and Hunter Stadium have achieved. To be selected as host venues from an extremely competitive field of Australian stadiums is no small feat," adds Aurecon ANZ Property Leader, Peter Turner.

"We're very confident that players and spectators alike will undoubtedly be impressed by the industry​​-leading facilities and amenities that both venues have to offer."