NAIROBI, Kenya – Manchester United and Arsenal could become the next European football giants to play at Nairobi’s Raila Odinga International Stadium, with Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen hinting at a possible friendly between the Premier League rivals in 2027.
Murkomen suggested that the two clubs could meet in Nairobi around June or July next year, following the planned January encounter between German champions Bayern Munich and Dutch giants Ajax.
The proposal would give Kenya another major international football attraction as the country prepares to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) alongside Uganda and Tanzania.
Speaking during an engagement, Murkomen indicated that the government was looking beyond the stadium’s opening match to attract more international sporting events.
“And this is just the first game. When the current Premier League season ends, around June or July, Manchester United will play Arsenal in Nairobi. My police officers will have a very difficult task because locals here will trek to Nairobi,” he said.
However, neither Manchester United nor Arsenal had publicly confirmed the proposed fixture by the time of publication.
Bayern-Ajax clash already confirmed
The proposed Premier League showdown would follow the Bayern Munich-Ajax friendly scheduled for January 5, 2027, which will officially open the 60,000-capacity Raila Odinga International Stadium at Talanta Sports City.
Both clubs have independently confirmed the fixture, with Bayern announcing that it will travel to Nairobi to face Ajax as part of the stadium’s inauguration.
Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi has also said the two clubs are expected to bring their senior teams rather than legends or reserve sides.
The January event is expected to feature an international football festival, placing Kenya’s new sporting facility before a global audience ahead of AFCON 2027.
The stadium, which has a seating capacity of 60,000, is among the venues being prepared for the continental tournament.
AFCON timing could shape proposed friendly
Murkomen’s suggested June-July window also raises questions about when the proposed Manchester United-Arsenal match could take place.
AFCON 2027 is scheduled to run from June 19 to July 17, 2027, meaning a friendly planned within the same period could overlap with the continental tournament.
The timing, therefore, may depend on the final match arrangements, the availability of the clubs and the stadium’s commitments during AFCON.
For now, the proposed fixture remains unconfirmed, with no official announcement from either English club on dates, squad arrangements or ticketing.
