European football giants FC Bayern Munich and AFC Ajax will play the opening match at Kenya’s new national stadium in Nairobi on January 5, 2027, as the country prepares to co-host the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with Uganda and Tanzania.
Kenyan President William Ruto announced the fixture on Wednesday, confirming that the 60,000-seater facility, now named the Raila Odinga International Stadium at Talanta Sports City, will be officially inaugurated with the high-profile friendly.
The match will bring together two of Europe’s most decorated clubs ahead of the 2027 AFCON tournament, scheduled to run from June 19 to July 17 across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Bayern Munich, the German club, have won the European Cup and UEFA Champions League six times, while Dutch side Ajax have claimed the continental title four times.
In a statement, Bayern described the fixture as an international football festival intended to celebrate the game across Africa and strengthen the club’s relationship with its African supporters.
The club said the event would also build anticipation for AFCON 2027, which will be the first edition hosted jointly by three countries and the tournament’s return to East Africa since 1976.
Ruto said the new stadium would provide Kenya with a major venue for international sporting events and form part of the country’s preparations for the continental tournament.
The facility, located along Ngong Road in Nairobi, has a planned capacity of 60,000 spectators. Construction began in March 2024, with the stadium expected to serve as one of Kenya’s main venues for AFCON 2027.
The stadium has been named in honour of former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who died in October 2025. Ruto said the name was fitting because Odinga was a football enthusiast and had studied engineering in Germany.
The January match is expected to give Kenyan supporters an opportunity to watch two major European clubs on home soil while providing organisers with an important event ahead of AFCON.
Ajax confirmed the fixture, saying the match against Bayern would also serve as a test for the club as it prepares for the second half of the European season. Further details about ticket sales and match arrangements are expected to be announced by the organisers.
For Uganda, which will co-host AFCON alongside Kenya and Tanzania, the stadium opening is part of the wider build-up to the 2027 tournament, which is expected to bring international teams and supporters to the region.
