Zaha Hadid Architects have won the competition to design Japan National Stadium, pipping a formidable line up of global design teams including Australia’s Cox Architecture.

Cox had been shortlisted alongside 10 of the world’s top design groups in the international competition to design Japan’s new National Stadium.

The winning concept by Zaha Hadid Architects.

Run by the Japan Sport Council, the ambition is to create “the world’s greatest stadium”.

The new stadium will have one of the world’s largest spectator capacities. It is scheduled for completion in 2018, built to support Japan’s ambition to host the 2020 Olympic Games as well a potenitial  venue for the FIFA World Cup.

Images by Zaha Hadid Architects courtesy jpnsport.com