Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi says the visit of Bayern Munich and Ajax Amsterdam for the opening of the Raila Odinga International Stadium will give Kenya a major opportunity to market itself to the world, attract tourists and unlock economic opportunities.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsMwangi believes the global following of the two European giants will provide Kenya with an international platform to showcase its sporting infrastructure and tourism attractions as the country prepares to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) alongside Uganda and Tanzania.The 60,000-seater facility, located at Talanta Sports City in Nairobi, will be officially inaugurated on Tuesday, 5 January 2027 through a high-profile encounter between the two clubs##NAJAVA_MECA_10075963##This follows President William Ruto's announcement of the fixture on Wednesday, 28 OctoberSpeaking to reporters, Mwangi said securing the two clubs was part of the government's ambition to showcase Kenya's growing sporting infrastructure and position the country as a destination for major international sporting events."We have built the Talanta Sports City, and we are almost done with it. That is why we have managed to secure a top-notch match between Bayern Munich and Ajax. We want everybody to know that Kenya has a world-class stadium. Former Harambee Stars keeper Patrick Matasi begins new Christian journeyThe two teams (Bayern and Ajax) have a huge global following, and therefore them coming here means we will be able to ride on that and brand the country positively through their platforms.The economic impact of that period of the match and beyond will be huge, and that is the legacy of our President, Dr William Ruto," explained the PS.Bayern's enormous digital footprint offers an indication of the international exposure Kenya could gain from the encounter.Billions Kenya is likely to splash in hosting Bayern vs Ajax friendly in NairobiFigures released by the German club in September 2026 showed that it generated more than 1.1 billion social media interactions and 15 billion video views during the 2025/26 season.Its online community also grew by approximately 10 per cent to more than 220 million followers across its platforms, with Instagram, TikTok and Facebook among the major contributors.Mwangi believes Kenya can tap into this global reach to promote the country beyond the traditional football audience, potentially attracting more visitors, investors and sporting partnerships.##NAJAVA_MECA_10077474##The expected economic benefits could also extend to local businesses, particularly hotels, restaurants, transport operators, tourism companies and other service providers likely to benefit from the arrival of supporters, club officials and international media personnel.The January encounter will also carry historical significance for both clubs, although their previous experiences on the continent differ.Munich's most notable competitive appearance in Africa came during the 2013 FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco.Aldrine Kibet back as Kimani names provisional U23 squad for Ivory CoastThe German giants defeated China's Guangzhou Evergrande 3-0 in the semi-finals before overcoming hosts Raja Casablanca 2-0 in Marrakech to lift the trophy.Ajax, meanwhile, have historical links to African football through their former South African affiliate Ajax Cape Town, now known as Cape Town Spurs.However, the Amsterdam club's senior team has not previously played on African soil, making the Nairobi fixture a significant occasion.Kenya U15 finish in top 30 globally after impressive FIFA U-15 World Cup outingThe two clubs have considerable European pedigree, with Bayern having won the UEFA Champions League six times and Ajax four times.Beyond the spectacle, the fixture will provide an opportunity to assess the operational readiness of the new facility ahead of the 2027 AFCON.During an inspection on 1 October, the Senate Labour Committee reported that construction had reached approximately 94 per cent.##NAJAVA_MECA_10076435##The Bayern-Ajax encounter will offer a major test of stadium operations, including crowd management, security, ticketing, broadcasting, media facilities and spectator movement.