President William Ruto has announced that German football giants Bayern Munich will face Dutch giants AFC Ajax in a high-profile international friendly to mark the official opening of the Raila Odinga International (Talanta) Stadium on January 5, 2027.
The match is expected to attract international attention, with the private sector set to finance the fixture as Kenya prepares to welcome two of Europe's most decorated football clubs to Nairobi.
Speaking during a special address on Wednesday, October 28, Ruto said the encounter would be a historic moment for the country’s sporting sector.
"Ladies and gentlemen, come January 2027, we will open this stadium with a historic match of FC Bayern and Ajax," stated President Ruto.
Vantage Ke has established that the proposed fixture will come as both clubs approach the end of their respective winter breaks, potentially providing an opportunity for the European sides to feature in a high-profile friendly outside their domestic leagues.
Bayern Munich compete in Germany's Bundesliga, while Ajax are among the leading clubs in the Netherlands' Eredivisie. Both teams have a rich history in European football and boast large international fan bases.
The presence of Bayern Munich could also draw attention to England captain and Ballon d'Or winner Harry Kane, who plays for the six-time European champions, with the final squad for the Nairobi fixture expected to be confirmed in the days leading up to the friendly match.
The Bundesliga is scheduled to pause for its winter break following Matchday 14 on December 20, 2026, with domestic fixtures expected to resume over the weekend of January 8, 2027.
Similarly, the Eredivisie is expected to conclude its final round of December fixtures on December 20, 2026, before resuming league action during the first full weekend of January, with matches scheduled for January 9, 2027.
The timing of the proposed January 5 encounter would therefore place the two teams within their respective mid-season breaks, potentially making the Nairobi fixture easier to accommodate in their schedules.
President Ruto said the proposed match between Bayern and Ajax would form part of his pledge to honour the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who pursued his studies in Germany at Leipzig University and Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg.
"This is part of my commitment to honor the late Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who studied in Germany. He loved football; he stood on the stands, and he enjoyed football with the people," President Ruto added.
Ajax FC has responded to President Ruto's announcement that the Dutch club and Bayern have been invited to play in the opening match of the Raila Odinga Talanta Stadium on January 5, 2027.
The invitation comes as Kenya prepares to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) alongside Tanzania and Uganda, with the country seeking to strengthen its capacity to stage major international football events.
In a statement, the four-time European champions acknowledged the invitation, noting that organisers had extended warm words to both clubs while highlighting the significance of the proposed fixture for East African football.
"The invitation to Ajax and Bayern Munich for the opening match was accompanied by warm words from the organisers for both clubs. The match between six-time and four-time UEFA Champions League winners Bayern Munich and Ajax respectively, is regarded by the organisers as a major football event in East Africa: the opening of a special new stadium in front of a huge African audience, a meeting between two major names in international football and a defining moment for Kenya on the road to the Africa Cup of Nations," Ajax FC stated.
Bayern vs Ajax Last Meeting
As quick research done by Vantage Ke found out, the last meeting between Bayern Munich and Ajax took place on July 24, 2021, in a pre-season friendly that ended in a 2-2 draw. The match was part of Bayern’s preparations for the 2021/22 season, with both clubs using the encounter to assess their squads ahead of the new campaign.
Before that friendly, the clubs’ most recent competitive encounters came in the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League group stage. Their last meeting in the competition was on December 12, 2018, when Ajax and Bayern played out a thrilling 3-3 draw in Amsterdam.
Robert Lewandowski scored twice for Bayern, while Dušan Tadić netted twice for Ajax. Niklas Süle also scored an own goal for Ajax. Both teams finished the match with 10 players following red cards for Ajax’s Maximilian Wöber and Bayern’s Thomas Müller.
The planned friendly is thus expected to be a major attraction for Kenyan football fans, offering them an opportunity to watch two prominent European clubs play on home soil.
The opening of the Raila Odinga Talanta Stadium is also expected to mark a significant milestone in Kenya's efforts to expand its sports infrastructure and position itself as a destination for major international sporting events.
With the private sector expected to fund the match, the fixture could also provide a platform for commercial partnerships and international exposure as the country continues to invest in football development.
Further details, including ticket prices, match organisation arrangements and confirmation of the participating squads, are expected to be announced in the coming days.
