President William Ruto and FIFA President Gianni Infantino have discussed plans to establish a FIFA-standard stadium in Mombasa as part of efforts to expand Kenya’s football infrastructure.
The two leaders held talks on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday, September 24, with Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Hussein Mohammed also attending the meeting.
Mohammed said the proposed facility would serve the Coast region while giving Kenya the capacity to host major international football matches and other sporting events.
“We also discussed progress on the possibility of a FIFA-standard stadium in Mombasa to serve the Coast region and position Kenya as a hub for international football and sports tourism,” he wrote in a statement.
The proposal comes as the government continues with the construction and development of stadiums in different parts of the country.
Among the ongoing projects is the Raila Odinga International Stadium, which has been constructed to meet the standards set by FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Ruto has in recent months highlighted the government’s plans to expand sports infrastructure, including a proposal to construct 32 new stadiums across Kenya.
Beyond stadium infrastructure, the meeting also explored measures to deepen cooperation between Kenya and FIFA and accelerate the development of football at various levels.
According to Ruto, the discussions included plans to establish regional technical centres dedicated to identifying and developing young football talent.
The centres are expected to boost grassroots football while creating structured pathways for talented young players to progress through the sport.
“We discussed regional technical centres to identify and nurture young talent, strengthen grassroots football and create clear pathways for the next generation of Kenyan players,” Ruto wrote in a statement after the meeting.
Mohammed also briefed Infantino on developments surrounding the FIFA Arena project and plans to establish a modern technical centre.
The latest discussions come more than a year after Ruto and Infantino met at State House in August 2025, where they discussed plans for a Ksh600 million National Technical Centre in Machakos.
The facility, with support from FIFA, was envisioned as a central hub for football development and was expected to accommodate the FKF headquarters.
During Thursday’s meeting, Mohammed further updated Infantino on Kenya’s preparations to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) alongside Tanzania and Uganda.
