Harambee Stars will return to international action this March after being confirmed for the 2026 FIFA Series, a global initiative designed to provide national teams with cross-confederation competitive exposure.
Kenya has been drawn into Group A, where they will face Estonia (UEFA), Grenada (CONCACAF) and hosts Rwanda (CAF) in the mini tournament is scheduled to take place in Kigali from 23-31 March 2026.
The FIFA Series, which debuted as a pilot in 2024, has now expanded into a full-scale biennial event.
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FIFA Series to help Harambee Stars’ AFCON 2027 preps
Unlike traditional friendly windows where teams often struggle to find diverse opponents, this format groups four teams from at least three different confederations in a single host venue.
Under the guidance of head coach Benni McCarthy, the Harambee Stars are using 2026 as a foundation year with Kenya set to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) alongside Uganda and Tanzania and will try to build a squad capable of competing with the continent’s elite during Afcon.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF), in the official statement released on Monday afternoon, confirmed that the senior men’s national team will be in action outlining the objectives for the mini tournament.
“Harambee Stars will use the tournament as a valuable platform to prepare for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
The matches will allow the technical bench to assess players, build team chemistry and expose the squad to diverse styles of play as preparations for the continental showpiece gather momentum,” read the statement.
Kenya will be hoping to improve after a disappointing end to 2025.The team closed the year with a narrow 1-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea followed by a humbling 8-0 defeat against a star-studded Senegal side in what was one of the heaviest losses in the nation’s football history.
