Kenya will host the FIFA Series after being confirmed as the venue for one of this year’s four women’s groups taking place between 9 and 18 April.
FIFA, in a statement on Tuesday, 24 March, noted that Kenya had been chosen to host the group, whose addition was the most significant change to the 2026 FIFA Series calendar.
Nyayo National Stadium has been earmarked to host the series of friendly matches, which will bring together four countries, namely: hosts Harambee Starlets, Malawi, Australia and India.
Asian Football Confederation (AFC) representatives Australia will get the tournament started on Saturday, 11 April, when they come up against Malawi.
Beldine Odemba‘s coached Harambee Starlets will then entertain India later on the same day.
The third-place playoff and the final are scheduled to take place four days later on Wednesday, 15 April.
The games will mark the first time Kenya will be hosting the FIFA Series, a biennial invitational football tournament designed to bring together teams with a wide range of competitive profiles, from established international sides to emerging nations, thereby reinforcing FIFA’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable global football development.
Having launched in 2022, the FIFA Series held its inaugural edition in 2024, but was limited to men’s national teams only.
This year’s edition will be the first to have women’s sides take part, with Kenya rightfully taking its place in histor
The three previously scheduled women’s groups will take place in Brazil, Côte d’Ivoire and Thailand.
The men’s fixtures, taking place between Wednesday, 25 March and Monday, 31 March, will, on the other hand, be hosted in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Uzbekistan and Rwanda – the only FIFA Member Association hosting two groups.
Kenya’s men’s national football side – Harambee Stars – are among the nations in Rwanda, where they have been paired with the hosts, Estonia and Grenada.
The chance for Harambee Starlets to host and take part in the friendlies offers them a suitable opportunity to prepare for their second stab at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), which takes place from 25 July to 16 August.
