German giants Bayern Munich will face Dutch record champions Ajax Amsterdam in Nairobi on January 5, 2027, in the match that officially opens the new Raila Odinga International Stadium at Talanta Sports City.
President William Ruto announced the fixture on Wednesday, and both clubs confirmed it on their official channels. It will be Bayern’s first visit to Kenya.
The 60,000-seat stadium, on which construction began in March 2024, is Kenya’s first purpose-built football stadium and is designed to meet CAF’s top category standards. It is expected to be a key venue for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which Kenya co-hosts with Uganda and Tanzania from June 19 to July 17, 2027.
Tickets go on sale on November 5 through the official Talanta Sports City website. The match will be broadcast live in Germany, and Bayern say the event is meant to build excitement for AFCON across the continent.
Not everyone welcomed the line-up. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua questioned why a stadium built with public money would open without a Kenyan side, suggesting Harambee Stars, Gor Mahia or AFC Leopards should have been involved.
Sources: FC Bayern; Nation; The Star; Pulse Kenya; Michezo Afrika; KenyanVibe.
