Bayern Munich and Ajax are scheduled to play a friendly on 5 January 2027 to inaugurate the Raila Odinga International Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya. The 60,000-capacity venue at Talanta Sports City was built as part of preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which Kenya will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania.
The fixture has been confirmed by Ajax, Bayern's official fixture list and a statement from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) dated 29 October 2026. January's game is an inauguration friendly, not an AFCON match. The tournament's full match schedule, including allocations to individual stadiums, has yet to be published.
What is confirmed for the Nairobi opening
Kenyan President William Ruto announced the event on 28 October. Ajax said that day that it would face Bayern at the opening of the Raila Odinga International Stadium at Talanta Sports City and described the friendly as the final part of its preparations for the second half of the European season. Bayern also listed the match in its 2026/27 friendly calendar, identifying the date and venue.
The stadium is named after former Kenyan prime minister Raila Odinga. Although it is also referred to as Talanta Stadium because of its location in the sports complex, the name used by the clubs for the opening is Raila Odinga International Stadium. Ajax and CAF report a capacity of approximately 60,000 spectators.
How the opening fits into the AFCON 2027 calendar
CAF has scheduled the opening of the men's Africa Cup of Nations for 19 June 2027 and the final for 17 July. The PAMOJA 2027 edition will involve 24 national teams and, for the first time, three host countries. It will also mark the tournament's return to East Africa, which last hosted it in Ethiopia in 1976.
The friendly is scheduled for more than five months before AFCON begins. CAF reported that its delegation inspected the 60,000-capacity stadium in September, alongside training facilities, hotels, transport and other infrastructure related to hosting duties. A major fixture featuring Bayern and Ajax could offer a chance to assess access, safety, crowd management and stadium operations. It does not amount to final certification of the venue's readiness.
Ajax describes the arena as one of the planned AFCON venues. CAF, however, said in its 29 October statement that the stadium is expected to be among Kenya's principal facilities while noting that the complete list of match venues has not been announced. The inauguration is therefore confirmed; specific AFCON fixtures at the ground, including any possible opening match or final, should not be treated as allocated.
Key dates
| Milestone | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| CAF inspection of facilities | September 2026 | Visit to stadiums and infrastructure in the three host countries |
| Bayern vs Ajax friendly announced | 28 October 2026 | Opening fixture made public |
| Nairobi stadium inauguration | 5 January 2027 | Friendly scheduled, kick-off time to be announced |
| AFCON PAMOJA 2027 begins | 19 June 2027 | Official tournament opening date |
| AFCON PAMOJA 2027 final | 17 July 2027 | Official final date |
Kick-off time and tickets: what remains open
As checked on 29 October 2026, Bayern's fixture calendar listed the 5 January friendly but did not provide a kick-off time. Bundesliga reported that ticket sales were planned from 5 November through talantasportscity.com. Ajax, meanwhile, said further match and ticketing information would follow. The consulted sources did not confirm ticket prices or purchase terms.
The confirmed plan is therefore for the new arena's ceremonial and operational debut in January. The detailed allocation of AFCON matches, scheduled for June and July, remains a separate stage of tournament preparations.
Sources and references
- Ajax: friendly confirmation and stadium details (28 October 2026)
- Bayern Munich: official 2026/27 friendly fixture calendar
- CAF: inauguration and expected role of the venue (29 October 2026)
- CAF: official AFCON 2027 dates (2 May 2026)
- CAF: stadium and infrastructure inspections (4 September 2026)
- Bundesliga: friendly and planned ticket sale (28 October 2026)
- The Standard: announcement by the Kenyan president (29 October 2026)
