President William Ruto has announced that German football giants Bayern Munich will face Dutch side Ajax in the inaugural match at the Raila Amolo Odinga International Stadium, formerly known as Talanta Stadium, when it opens in January 2027.
In an address to the nation on Wednesday, October 28, Ruto said the 60,000-seater facility would officially open in January, with the high-profile fixture marking its launch.
“Come January 5, 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. Between them, they have been crowned champions of Europe ten times,” Ruto said.
Ruto also linked the match to Raila Odinga’s time in Germany, noting that a major German club would play at a stadium named after him. He said Ajax’s tradition of developing young talent through its academy also tied in with the meaning of Talanta, describing the January 5, 2027, match as a meeting of talent and the future in Nairobi.
The announcement comes as Kenya prepares to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with Uganda and Tanzania, and the new stadium is expected to be one of the country’s key venues for the continental tournament.
The match would bring two European clubs to Nairobi. Bayern Munich is based in Germany, while Ajax is based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Ruto Confirms Talanta Stadium Will Be Named After Raila Odinga
The facility was initially known as Talanta Stadium before Ruto announced in December 2025 plans to name it Raila Odinga International Stadium in honour of the late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga.
Speaking in Kisumu on September 14, 2026, the President said the stadium would formally take the name when it officially opened.
Also Read: Ruto Settles Talanta Stadium Naming Row in Honour of Raila Odinga
“I already pronounced myself that Talanta Stadium is going to be renamed Raila Odinga International Stadium,” Ruto said at the time.
He explained that the project was nearing completion, with final installations and systems still requiring attention before the facility could be commissioned.
“We are looking for some teams to come and play the first match. We are going to open Talanta Stadium now as Raila Odinga International Stadium,” he said.
The stadium is located at Jamhuri Grounds along Ngong Road in Nairobi. It is part of the Talanta Sports City project, intended to expand Kenya’s sports infrastructure and provide facilities for major local and international competitions.
With a planned capacity of 60,000 spectators, it is one of the country’s major new sports infrastructure projects.
Unlike traditional multipurpose stadiums with athletics tracks around the pitch, the facility was designed specifically for football and rugby, letting spectators sit closer to the playing surface.
The stadium also has training pitches and parking facilities.
When Did Construction of the Stadium Begin?
Construction began on March 1, 2024, with China Road and Bridge Corporation contracted to build the facility.
The Ministry of Defence, through the Kenya Defence Forces, has overseen construction and engineering works, alongside other government agencies involved in the project.
Also Read: Nairobi’s Road Network Set for Expansion With New 19.5km Talanta Stadium Network
The stadium was developed as part of Kenya’s preparations to host AFCON 2027. Its construction aimed to provide a modern venue for international matches and other major sporting events.
In January, the government said construction had reached 80 per cent and projected completion by March that year.
On October 1, project officials told the Senate Committee on Labour and Social Welfare, chaired by Senator Julius Murgor, that the stadium was about 94 per cent complete, with technical, accessibility and operational issues still outstanding.”
Stadium’s Role in AFCON 2027
Kenya will co-host AFCON 2027 with Uganda and Tanzania, bringing the continent’s premier men’s national-team football tournament to East Africa.
The competition requires suitable match venues, training facilities, transport links, security arrangements and other infrastructure to accommodate teams, officials and supporters.
Raila Amolo Odinga International Stadium is expected to be one of Kenya’s principal venues for the tournament, alongside Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
The new facility is also expected to support rugby and other events beyond AFCON, giving Kenya additional capacity to host international sporting competitions.
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