Talanta Sports Stadium set to host AFCON 2027 opener and final

Kenya’s new Talanta Sports Stadium, also known as the Raila Odinga Stadium, will stage the opening match and final of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN PAMOJA 2027).

The ultra-modern venue, being built on a 45-hectare site, will have capacity for 60,000 spectators. Unlike many major stadiums, it will not include an athletics track, allowing supporters to sit close to the hybrid natural-grass pitch.

The project is valued at $350 million and includes both Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology and goal-line technology. It will also feature 15 lifts and access ramps, designed to provide improved accessibility throughout the stadium.

Construction began on 1 March 2024, with the project described as having been completed in a record two years. The stadium’s official inauguration is scheduled for 5 January 2027, when Bayern Munich will play Ajax Amsterdam in a prestigious gala match.

That fixture will mark the venue’s first major occasion and is intended to signal a new period for Kenya’s sporting infrastructure. The project also highlights the country’s ability to deliver an internationally significant stadium development within a tight timeframe.

The Raila Odinga Stadium will be a central venue for CAN PAMOJA 2027, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania from 19 June to 17 July 2027.

Its selection for both the opening game and the final underlines its importance to the tournament. The stadium is being presented as the most modern and most expensive in East Africa, with the project expected to strengthen Kenya’s profile on the international sporting stage.