NEW YORK, US — Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Hussein Mohammed joined President William Ruto in a closed-door meeting with FIFA President Gianni Infantino as Kenya steps up preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York and focused on Kenya’s preparations to co-host AFCON 2027 with Tanzania and Uganda, as well as plans to strengthen the country’s football infrastructure.
Hussein said he briefed Infantino on Kenya’s progress towards hosting the continental tournament and the federation’s broader ambitions for the development of Kenyan football.
“We finally briefed President Infantino on our progress towards co-hosting AFCON 2027 and our commitment to making Kenya a competitive footballing nation,” Hussein said.
FIFA Arena, Technical Centre and Mombasa Stadium Discussed
The FKF president said the talks also covered plans to expand Kenya’s football infrastructure.
“We also discussed progress on the FIFA Arena project, a modern Technical Centre, and the possibility of a FIFA-standard stadium in Mombasa to serve the Coast region and position Kenya as a hub for international football and sports tourism,” he said.
President Ruto separately said the discussions included the establishment of regional technical centres to identify and nurture young talent, strengthen grassroots football and create clearer pathways for young players.
Kenya is also pursuing major stadium projects ahead of AFCON 2027, including the Talanta Sports International Stadium, while work continues at Kasarani. CAF President Patrice Motsepe visited both facilities earlier in September as part of preparations for the tournament.
Hussein Faces Pressure at FKF
The New York meeting comes as Hussein faces several administrative challenges at FKF, including concerns surrounding the delayed start of the 2026/27 FKF Premier League, the status of Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy’s work permit, unpaid national-team allowances and divisions within the federation’s National Executive Committee.
McCarthy recently said he and members of his foreign technical team had been working in Kenya without the required work permits. FKF subsequently acknowledged the issue and said it was working with government agencies to process the documentation.
The coach also raised concerns over outstanding player allowances, saying some Harambee Stars players had gone through several camps without receiving payments they were owed. FKF has said an outstanding payment from a previous national-team assignment had been cleared and was expected to reflect in players’ accounts, while other payments were still being processed.
Premier League Dispute Eases
The uncertainty surrounding the start of the new FKF Premier League season has also eased after Kariobangi Sharks and Mombasa United agreed to a playoff to determine which club takes the final position in the top tier.
The dispute had contributed to uncertainty over the league’s start as the federation dealt with competing claims over promotion and participation.
The resolution allows FKF to focus on the start of the domestic campaign while preparations continue for Kenya’s international assignments.
Harambee Stars Prepare for AFCON Qualifier
The national team is also preparing for its 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign, with Kenya set to face Eritrea in a Group D fixture at Nyayo National Stadium.
The match comes against the backdrop of the administrative concerns surrounding the team, particularly the work-permit issue involving McCarthy and outstanding player payments.
FKF has said it is working with relevant government agencies to resolve the documentation concerns while also addressing financial issues affecting the national team.
