Nairobi, Kenya | October 28, 2026

German football giants Bayern Munich and Dutch side Ajax will headline the opening of Kenya’s new Raila Odinga International Stadium at Talanta Sports City in Nairobi on January 5, 2027.

President William Ruto announced the high-profile fixture on Wednesday, confirming that the two European clubs will meet in the first football match at the 60,000-seat facility. Both Bayern Munich and Ajax have since confirmed their participation.

Bayern described the encounter as a special match to begin the new year, while Ajax said it was honoured to be selected for the opening fixture.

The match will be Bayern’s first visit to Kenya and is expected to attract significant attention from football fans across the country and the wider African continent. The two clubs have won Europe’s premier club competition a combined 10 times, with Bayern claiming six European Cup or UEFA Champions League titles and Ajax four.

The fixture will also bring together two clubs with strong traditions of developing football talent. Ajax is particularly renowned for its youth academy, while Bayern has established itself as one of Germany’s most successful clubs.

The stadium, formerly known as Talanta Stadium, has been named the Raila Odinga International Stadium in honour of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. It is located at Jamhuri Grounds along Ngong Road and has a planned capacity of 60,000 spectators.

Designed primarily for football and rugby, the facility features a hybrid playing surface, 52 luxury skyboxes, Video Assistant Referee technology and goal-line technology. It is also expected to serve as one of Kenya’s key venues during the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

Bayern said the January fixture would form part of an international football festival celebrating the sport across Africa and building anticipation for AFCON 2027, which Kenya will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania.

For Kenya, the encounter will provide an opportunity to showcase its sporting infrastructure to an international audience as preparations intensify for the continental tournament.

Ruto has also linked the stadium to wider economic opportunities, including job creation, tourism, investment and the development of young sporting talent. He said the opening event would be delivered through corporate partnerships and a commercially sustainable model aimed at attracting private investment and generating revenue.

Tickets for the Bayern Munich-Ajax encounter are scheduled to go on sale on November 5 through the Talanta Sports City website, according to reports and Bayern-linked information.

The January 5 encounter will therefore mark a major moment for Kenyan football, bringing two of Europe’s most decorated clubs to Nairobi while providing an international showcase for a new stadium at the centre of the country’s preparations for AFCON 2027.

With the continental tournament approaching, the Bayern-Ajax clash will also offer an early opportunity for Kenya to demonstrate its ability to host major international football events.