Kenya could welcome two of English football’s biggest clubs in 2027, with Manchester United and Arsenal being lined up for a possible friendly at the new Raila Odinga International Stadium.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen hinted at the proposed fixture on Sunday, November 8, saying President William Ruto plans to bring the Premier League rivals to Nairobi next year.
“Next year, the President will bring Manchester United and Arsenal in June. They will come to play in Nairobi,” Murkomen said.
The proposed match would follow the Bayern Munich versus Ajax friendly scheduled for January 5, 2027, at the 60,000-seat stadium. The encounter is expected to serve as the venue’s official inauguration.
Murkomen said the Bayern-Ajax fixture had already attracted international interest, with an estimated 5,000 European supporters expected to travel to Kenya, alongside fans from Nigeria and Egypt.
Tickets for the January match have been advertised from KSh2,500, while organisers are preparing a 12-hour fan festival featuring international music performances and activities celebrating Kenyan sport and culture.
The proposed Manchester United-Arsenal fixture would further raise Kenya’s profile as a destination for international sporting events. Both clubs have substantial fan bases in the country, although neither has confirmed participation in the proposed match.
For now, the January Bayern-Ajax encounter remains the confirmed fixture, while the possible Premier League showdown is still at the planning stage. Details of its date, ticketing and organisation have yet to be announced.
