German club FC Bayern Munich will play Dutch side AFC Ajax at the official opening of the Raila Odinga International Stadium in Nairobi. President William Ruto announced on Wednesday that the match will take place on January 5, 2027, The Star reported. The stadium is part of the Talanta Sports City complex.
According to Mwananchi, the stadium holds 60,000 spectators and meets CAF Category Four standards. It has hospitality areas, technology to support referees and facilities for rugby. Mwananchi also reported that Bayern will be visiting Kenya for the first time. Ajax will use the match to prepare for the restart of its season. Bayern will play during the Bundesliga winter break.
Ruto said the two clubs had won Europe's premier club competition 10 times between them. He linked the choice of teams to the stadium's name and to Raila Odinga's studies in Germany. He also compared the Talanta name, which means talent, with Ajax's well-known youth academy. "From this stadium, our message to the world is clear: Kenya is ready to welcome the world, and Africa is ready for greatness," Ruto said.
The President said corporate partnerships and a commercially sustainable model would pay for the opening event. He argued that world-class facilities can attract private investment and generate revenue. He said the match fulfils his promise to deliver a stadium able to host leading international teams.
The announcement has drawn mixed reactions. The Daily Nation described a blend of excitement, praise and scepticism. The Star reported that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua asked whether local teams should headline the opener instead. Mwananchi said fans could see top European players, including Bayern striker Harry Kane. It described Kane as the 2026 Ballon d'Or winner.
Kenya will co-host AFCON 2027 with Tanzania and Uganda under the Pamoja initiative. Mwananchi reported that the tournament runs from June 19 to July 17, 2027. According to the paper, tickets for the Bayern-Ajax match are expected to go on sale on November 5, 2026, through the official Talanta Sports City website.