Kenya is set to make history as the first African nation to host a women’s group in the FIFA Series 2026, a landmark expansion of the global football event. The newly added fourth women’s group will see the Harambee Starlets face India, while Australia competes against Malawi at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium on April 11. This development underscores FIFA’s push to elevate women’s football and amplify Africa’s role in the sport.
The tournament, running from March 25 to April 18, will feature 50 national teams across 12 host countries. Kenya joins Brazil, Côte d’Ivoire, and Thailand as women’s group hosts, with Brazil also preparing to host the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Men’s fixtures in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan were adjusted due to team withdrawals, while Rwanda will host two men’s groups.
African representation shines brightly, with seven nations—Kenya, Rwanda, Côte d’Ivoire, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Comoros, and Namibia—either hosting or competing. The event offers emerging teams a platform to showcase talent alongside World Cup-qualified squads like Australia and New Zealand.
FIFA’s initiative, endorsed in 2022, prioritizes capacity-building for host nations, providing hands-on experience in event management and referee development. All matches will be broadcast globally, offering unprecedented visibility for rising football nations.
