German football giants Bayern Munich and Dutch club Ajax are set to play an international friendly on January 5, 2027, to mark the opening of Kenya’s Raila Amolo Odinga International Stadium, President William Ruto has announced.
Ruto made the announcement on Wednesday, October 28, saying the match would bring two of Europe’s most decorated clubs to Nairobi for the inauguration of the 60,000-seat facility, previously known as Talanta Stadium.
The president said the match would be funded by the private sector, although further details of the financing arrangements were not immediately provided.
The fixture is expected to draw significant attention from football fans as Kenya prepares to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) alongside Uganda and Tanzania.
The stadium is among Kenya’s major sports infrastructure projects ahead of the continental tournament and is expected to strengthen the country’s capacity to host international football events.
The planned match would also bring Bayern forward Harry Kane, who won the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or on October 26, into the spotlight as part of the German club’s expected visit.
Further details about the match, including ticketing and the clubs’ final travel and participation arrangements, are yet to be announced.
