Kenya to host women’s group of 2026 Fifa Series
Harambee Starlets player group at Stade Lat Dior in Thies, Senegal, on October 28, 2025, during their match against Gambia in a 2025 Women's Afcon qualifiers.
What you need to know:
- The move is historic for Kenya as it marks the first time the country is hosting a Fifa tournament.
- Australia finished second in the 2026 AFC Women’s Asia Cup Cup, losing 1-0 to Japan in the final.
World football governing body Fifa has selected Kenya as a 2026 Fifa Series host after revising the schedule of this year’s edition of the biennial competition.
“The most significant change to the fixture list is the addition of a fourth women’s group in Kenya. There, at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, the host Harambee Starlets will welcome Australia and India from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) along with fellow Confederation of African Football (Caf) side Malawi,” Fifa said in a statement on Monday.
As per the fixtures released by Fifa, Kenya will face India after Australia play Malawi on 11 April. The third-place play-off and the final will be played four days later.
Kenya joins the trio of Brazil, Cote d’Ivoire, and Thailand who had been named in January as hosts of women’s Fifa Series 2026 matches. Each country will host a group comprising four teams.
The Fifa Series, now in its second edition, was launched in 2024 to create more opportunities for national teams from different confederations to play against each other. The 2026 edition is the first one to feature women’s teams.
The move is historic for Kenya as it marks the first time the country is hosting a Fifa tournament.
“On behalf of the government of Kenya, I extend a warm and heartfelt welcome to the participating nations – Australia, India, and Malawi – as well as officials, fans, and the global football community. Kenya stands ready to receive you and to showcase not only our sporting excellence, but also the warmth, diversity, and hospitality that define the origin of wonder,” Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya said on Tuesday at Talanta Plaza during the official launch of Kenya’s hosting of the series.
Exciting moment
“This selection is a strong vote of confidence in Kenya’s proven hosting capability. It affirms that the world and our continent have consistently witnessed Kenya’s ability to successfully plan, organise, and deliver world-class sporting events,” Mvurya added.
The launch was also attended by FKF President Hussein Mohammed who hyped the development as “the most exciting moment in the history of Kenyan football.”
Mohammed also said hosting Fifa Series 2026 matches will place Kenya as a strong footballing nation, give the country international exposure, and help the country build on its experience and expertise in organising international sporting events.
“Hosting this event will also help prepare to host Afcon 2027 which we plan to make the biggest football extravaganza the world has ever seen,” Mohammed added.
On the pitch, the prospect of Harambee Starlets playing Australia, popularly known as the Matildas, stands to elevate the former’s status in women’s international football.
The Matildas are perennial competitors at the Fifa Women’s World Cup, attaining their best performance in 2023 when they finished fourth as co-hosts with New Zealand. The Matildas are also regulars at the Olympic Games and were crowned AFC Women’s Asia Cup champions in 2010.
The Matildas finished second in the 2026 AFC Women’s Asia Cup Cup, losing 1-0 to Japan in the final.
