The Lansdowne Road stadium is to reopen in April 2010

The Republic of Ireland will play their first game at the new Aviva Stadium against Argentina next year.

Champions League winner Lionel Messi could be playing for the South Americans in Dublin on 11 August in the new 50,000 seat venue.

The stadium, which replaces Lansdowne Road, will host the 2011 Europa League final and all six matches of the Four Nations Tournament.

The Republic are currently playing their home games at Croke Park.

"Argentina will be fitting opponents to mark an opening international match of such significance," said John Delaney, chief executive officer of the Football Association of Ireland.

"Aviva Stadium will be joint owned by the FAI and the IRFU [Irish Rugby Football Union] and represents the single largest infrastructural project in the Association's history.

"I look forward to welcoming Argentina to Dublin next year to help us celebrate that achievement."

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