The Kenya women’s national football team, Harambee Starlets, will kick off their FIFA Series 2026 campaign with a historic clash against India in a highly anticipated encounter set for Saturday at Nyayo National Stadium.
The match, which kicks off at 5 PM EAT, marks an important moment for both teams as they look to make a strong statement in the FIFA Series tournament being hosted in Kenya.
This fixture will be a historic one, as it will be the first time Kenya and India face each other in a competitive match.
With teams from different continents meeting in Nairobi, the game presents a unique opportunity for Harambee Starlets to test themselves against unfamiliar opposition while enjoying home support.
Starlets will be hoping to bounce back from a mixed run of results in their recent fixtures where they have registered one win, one draw and three losses in their last five games.
Harambee Starlets eye strong start against India in FIFA Series 2026
The Starlets secured an important 1-0 win over Gambia in the WAFCON qualifiers, drew 1-1 against Algeria, but suffered defeats to Algeria, Benin, and Ivory Coast in international friendlies.
Despite the results, the technical bench emphasized that the friendlies were part of the team-building process ahead of major competitions.
India, on the other hand, also head into the match seeking redemption after a difficult AFC Women’s Asia Cup campaign.
The Blue Tigresses suffered heavy defeats to Japan, Chinese Taipei, and Vietnam but managed a friendly win against Zvezda Women earlier in the year.
Their recent results highlight a team in transition, eager to gain experience and adapt to different styles of play.
Harambee Starlets will have to navigate the match without key attacker Lorine Ilavonga who is ruled out due to injury.
Fasila Adhiambo and Ruth Ingosi, who joined the camp late after delayed release from Simba Queens, remain doubtful for this fixture but are expected to be available for the next game.
Jentrix Shikangwa will also miss the entire tournament, dealing a blow to Kenya’s attacking options.
India arrive with a fully fit squad and no injury concerns.
India head coach Crispin Chettri expressed his excitement about playing in Africa for the first time and facing Kenya in front of their passionate supporters.
“The FIFA Series is massive for football, it is the first time as India that we are in Africa to play football and this will help us know what African football is all about. It gives us more insight about football, and it is exciting to play against Kenya in front of her home fans,” he said.
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Harambee Starlets head coach Beldine Odemba described the FIFA Series as a crucial learning platform for her team, noting that the tournament offers an opportunity to test new ideas and build a competitive squad.
“When we play friendlies, we use them as test matches. We are always learning from our test matches. We played against Algeria. In our first match, we lost; in the second, we drew. This tells you that we are doing something new.”
“Often, we use these matches as test matches, and we are very motivated. We are calling this a mini-World Cup because we are meeting teams from different continents,” she noted.
The stakes are high in this opening match, as the winner will proceed to face the winner between Australia and Malawi, while the losing side will take on the loser of that fixture in Wednesday’s classification match.
With home support expected to fill Nyayo Stadium and both teams eager to begin their FIFA Series journey on a positive note, the clash promises to be a competitive and entertaining encounter as Harambee Starlets look to make Africa proud on home soil.