NAIROBI, Kenya — German giants Bayern Munich and Dutch club Ajax will face each other in Nairobi on January 5, 2027, in a high profile friendly that will officially open the new Raila Odinga International Stadium at Talanta Sports City.
The match, confirmed by both clubs and announced by Kenyan President William Ruto on Wednesday, October 28, will be the first time either club has played in Kenya. It is also expected to be one of the biggest international club fixtures hosted by the country.
President Ruto announced the fixture during an address in which he described the match as a historic moment for Kenya.
“Come 5th January 2027, we will open this stadium with a historic match between two giants of European football, FC Bayern Munich of Germany and FC Ajax of Amsterdam,” Ruto said.
He noted that Bayern and Ajax have won the UEFA Champions League 10 times between them, with Bayern claiming six titles and Ajax four.
Ruto also pointed to the connection between the match and the stadium’s namesake, the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who studied in Germany. Ajax’s famous youth development system was also referenced in relation to the Talanta Sports City project, with “Talanta” meaning talent.
Both clubs have since confirmed their participation. Bayern described the fixture as a special match to begin the new year, while Ajax said the game would mark an important moment for Kenya as the country prepares to co host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The match will take place during the European winter break, giving the clubs an opportunity to prepare for the second half of their respective domestic seasons.
Tickets are expected to go on sale from November 5 through the Talanta Sports City platform.
The Raila Odinga International Stadium, formerly known as Talanta Stadium during construction, has a reported capacity of 60,000 spectators. The purpose built football and rugby venue is located at Jamhuri Grounds along Ngong Road in Nairobi.
Construction began with a groundbreaking ceremony in March 2024 and has been led mainly by China Road and Bridge Corporation. The project is estimated to have cost about KSh45.85 billion, equivalent to roughly US$418 million.
By late October 2026, the main stadium structure was reported to be about 94% complete, with final systems testing and preparations for operations still underway.
The stadium features a hybrid GrassMaster playing surface, 52 skyboxes, VAR and goal line technology infrastructure, media and broadcast facilities, as well as modern spectator amenities. It is being developed to meet CAF Category 4 standards.
The venue is a major part of Kenya’s preparations to co host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations alongside Tanzania and Uganda. The tournament is scheduled to run from June 19 to July 17, 2027.
The 2027 tournament will be the first Africa Cup of Nations to be jointly hosted by three countries. It will also return the competition to East Africa for the first time since Ethiopia hosted the tournament in 1976.
The January friendly will therefore provide an early test of the stadium’s ability to host a major international football event before AFCON 2027.
Bayern and Ajax last met competitively in December 2018 during the UEFA Champions League group stage. The match ended in a 3 3 draw after four goals were scored in the final 10 minutes.
The clubs have met 10 times in competitive matches, with Bayern and Ajax each recording three victories and four games ending in draws.
The Nairobi match is also expected to attract attention because of Bayern’s England striker Harry Kane, who has been one of the club’s leading players since joining from Tottenham Hotspur in 2023.
For Kenya, the fixture is about more than the arrival of two major European clubs. It offers an international showcase for the country’s growing sports infrastructure and provides a major test for a stadium that is expected to play a central role during AFCON 2027.
The match will also serve as a high profile opening for a venue named after one of Kenya’s most prominent political figures and football enthusiasts, Raila Odinga.
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