After visiting the African country last year, FIFA President Gianni Infantino reconvened with Kenyan officials in New York City, USA
Kenya has a big year ahead as they return to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup™ in Morocco and co-host the CAF Africa Cup of Nations next summer
Gianni Infantino: “Together, as partners, we remain aligned on our vision for Kenyan football.”
A historic stretch for Kenyan football kicked off in New York City, USA, as FIFA President Gianni Infantino met with Kenya’s head of state, President William Ruto, as well as Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Hussein Mohammed, on the fringes of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly High-level Week 2026.
“It was wonderful to once again have a productive interaction with Kenyan President William Ruto and his colleagues,” Mr Infantino said. “Together, as partners, we remain aligned on our vision for Kenyan football, and with the support of his government and the Football Kenya Federation, will continue providing opportunities, infrastructure and pathways to the youth of Kenya.”
In October, Kenya’s U-17 women’s national team will face China PR, the United States and Samoa in the group stage of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup™ in Morocco. It will mark the nation’s second appearance of any kind at a FIFA tournament and the first since the U-17s made their finals debut at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2024™ in the Dominican Republic.
Kenya then will have the chance to display its passion for the game, and the country’s improving infrastructure, when it co-hosts the 2027 CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with Uganda and Tanzania. The 36th continental championship tournament will be the first played on Kenyan soil, with Nairobi’s brand new Raila Odinga International Stadium (also known as the Talanta Sports Stadium), Moi International Sports Centre and Nyayo National Stadium scheduled to stage matches.
Mr Infantino toured the Talanta site during his first visit to Kenya back in August 2025. He also met with President Ruto, who presented his FIFA counterpart with the deeds to the land in Machakos where the FKF intends to construct a new technical centre made possible by funding from the FIFA Forward Programme.
“Having met President Ruto last year, I am aware of his love for our game and his conviction that football can truly make a positive impact on people’s lives,” Mr Infantino said. “He has also been extremely supportive of FIFA, and our football development plans in his great nation that includes the development of a national technical centre and the implementation of the FIFA Arena project.”
Gianni Infantino enjoys “productive” meeting with Kenyan President William Ruto alongside UN General Assembly
Kenya’s enthusiastic embrace of FIFA’s array of initiatives and programmes designed to support FIFA Member Associations (MAs) has helped lay the foundation for the senior women’s team – which reached the CAF Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) finals for the second time this year – as well as the U-17 women, the upcoming AFCON and the overall growth of the game.
The FKF has spread nearly USD 15 million in FIFA Forward funding across nine approved projects, while also benefitting from FIFA Women’s Football Development Programmes and the FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS). Over the past two years, Kenya has leveraged the TDS to conduct training camps for boys’ and girls’ national teams ahead of regional and continental tournaments, along with workshops for coaches and scouts, and talent identification events for prospects in their mid-teens.
The FKF is also already participating in FIFA Football for Schools and FIFA Boots for All, and as the FIFA President referenced, construction is underway on two FIFA Arena mini-pitches near Nairobi.