Ruto announces Bayern Munich vs Ajax match at Talanta Stadium

President William Ruto has announced that German football giants Bayern Munich and Dutch side Ajax Amsterdam will play a historic match on January 5, 2027, to officially open Talanta Stadium in Nairobi.

Speaking on October 28, 2026, Ruto said the fixture would bring two of Europe’s most decorated football clubs to Kenya the inaugurate the new sporting facility.

“Come January 5, 2027, we will officially open this stadium with a historic match between two giants of European football, FC Bayern Munich of Germany and Ajax Amsterdam,” Ruto said.

The President added that the two clubs had won the European title 10 times between them, underscoring their history and stature in continental football.

The match will mark the formal opening of the 60,000-seat facility, officially known as Raila Odinga International Stadium and popularly referred to as Talanta Stadium. The venue is being developed as one of Kenya’s key facilities for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which the country will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania.

The match will mark the formal opening of the 60,000-seat facility, officially known as Raila Odinga International Stadium and popularly referred to as Talanta Stadium. The venue is being developed as one of Kenya’s key facilities for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which the country will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania.

Construction of the stadium began in March 2024, with the government overseeing the project through the Ministry of Defence and the Kenya Defence Forces. The facility is designed to host major football matches and other sporting events.

The announcement comes as Kenya steps up preparations for AFCON 2027, with stadium readiness, transport infrastructure, and other supporting facilities part of the country’s efforts to host the continental tournament.

Bayern Munich, based in Germany, and Ajax Amsterdam, based in the Netherlands, are among Europe’s established football clubs, with histories of success in continental competitions. Their scheduled appearance in Nairobi would bring two prominent European teams to Kenyan football fans for the stadium’s opening.

The January 5 fixture will also provide an opportunity to showcase the new facility ahead of AFCON 2027, which is expected to draw teams, officials and supporters from across Africa