President William Ruto/ PCS

Space the paras: President William Ruto has announced that German football giants Bayern Munich will face Dutch side Ajax Amsterdam in Nairobi on January 5, 2027, in a match set to open the new Raila Odinga International Stadium.

In a recorded address broadcast on Wednesday evening, Ruto said the European clubs would headline the opening, confirming that the 60,000-seater facility along Ngong Road would host the high-profile European football encounter.

“Come January 5, 2027, we will open this new modern historic match between two giants of European football, FC Bayern of Germany and AFC Ajax of Amsterdam,” Ruto said.

The President said the match would mark the opening of the stadium, which was built as part of Kenya’s preparations to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) alongside Uganda and Tanzania.

He described the facility as a major investment in the country’s sporting infrastructure, saying it would provide a venue capable of hosting leading international teams.

“Two years ago, I promised the people of Kenya a world-class stadium where the greatest teams in the world would come and play. Today, we are keeping that promise,” he said.

Ruto said the stadium had transformed Nairobi’s skyline, describing it as a 60,000-seat facility built on land that was previously open ground along Ngong Road.

He said the project began in March 2024 despite doubts over whether the government could deliver a stadium of that scale within the planned period.

“This is Kenya’s first purpose-built football and rugby stadium, and the first international stadium our nation has built since Kasarani in 1987, nearly 40 years ago,” he said.

The facility features a hybrid playing surface, 52 sky boxes, video assistant refereeing (VAR) and goal-line technology, according to the President.

Ruto also linked the stadium’s opening to the legacy of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, whose name the facility bears.

He said it was fitting for the stadium to carry Raila’s name because the late former Prime Minister loved football and enjoyed watching matches among supporters.

The announcement comes as Kenya intensifies preparations for AFCON 2027, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania from June 19 to July 17.

Talanta Stadium, also known as Raila Odinga International Stadium, is among the key facilities being prepared for the continental tournament. The government has said the venue will host major matches as Kenya seeks to meet the requirements set by the Confederation of African Football.

Ruto said the January match would bring together the traditions of the two European clubs, adding that Ajax’s youth development system aligns with the meaning of the stadium’s original name, Talanta, which means talent.