NAIROBI, Kenya- A new documentary and climate analysis have raised concerns about the future of grassroots football in Kenya, warning that climate change is increasingly rendering community football pitches unplayable and threatening the development of young sporting talent ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The findings were unveiled during the screening of Pitches in Peril: Mathare 4A, a documentary produced by Football for Future and DanChurchAid at an event hosted by the British High Commission in Nairobi.
According to the analysis, extreme rainfall is already affecting football activities in Nairobi’s Mathare area, with projections showing that rainfall during major storms could increase by as much as 68 per cent by the year 2100.
Researchers also warned of worsening heat stress and growing water scarcity, which could make it increasingly difficult to maintain community sports facilities.
The report projects that heat stress in the area could double by 2040, while by 2100 rising temperatures could result in up to 17 days each year when extreme heat disrupts football activities. Water stress is also expected to increase by 345 per cent, further threatening grassroots sports infrastructure.
The documentary focuses on the devastating floods that swept through Mathare in 2024, destroying homes, claiming lives and submerging the community’s iconic Mathare 4A football pitch.
The pitch has long served as a vital hub for nurturing sporting talent and providing young people with opportunities to develop skills, access scholarships and pursue professional careers in sports.
Among those featured in the documentary is Meschack Ochieng, who reflects on the role community pitches play in shaping future athletes.
“For many of us, pitches like Mathare 4A are where everything begins. It’s where young people find purpose, build friendships and believe in themselves,” Ochieng said.
“When those spaces are affected by extreme weather, it’s not just football that is lost – it’s opportunity.”
Football for Future founder Elliot Arthur-Worsop said AFCON 2027 presents East Africa with a unique opportunity to build a climate-resilient sporting legacy.
“Mathare 4A reminds us that the future of football is not only decided in stadiums. It is shaped on community pitches, in local neighbourhoods and through the opportunities football creates for young people every day,” he said.
The report’s findings come as Kenya, alongside Uganda and Tanzania, prepares to host AFCON 2027, the first time the tournament will be staged in East Africa.
Officials and climate experts attending the event called for greater investment in climate adaptation measures to protect grassroots sports infrastructure and vulnerable communities.
Jonas Vejsager Nøddekær said climate adaptation must become a priority for governments and development partners.
“Adaptation is about protecting people’s lives, opportunities and futures. Whether we are protecting homes, schools, farms or football pitches, investing in adaptation is investing in people’s ability to live safely and with dignity,” he said.
British High Commissioner to Kenya Matt Baugh said community football grounds can play an important role in driving climate action and building resilience.
The event was attended by Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi, Football Kenya Federation President Hussein Mohammed and Kenyan football legend Victor Wanyama.
The report also highlighted the global scale of the challenge, noting that 14 of the 16 stadiums set to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup had already exceeded safe-play thresholds for at least three climate hazards in 2025, including extreme heat, flooding and excessive rainfall.
With AFCON 2027 fast approaching, stakeholders say protecting grassroots pitches such as Mathare 4A could prove just as important as building new stadiums if East Africa hopes to leave a lasting football legacy.
