President William Ruto and FIFA President Gianni Infantino have discussed plans to build a FIFA-standard stadium in Mombasa as Kenya continues to expand its sports infrastructure.
The two held talks in New York on Thursday, September 24, on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Hussein Mohammed, who attended the meeting, said the proposed stadium would serve the Coast region and could host international football matches and other sporting events.
“We also discussed progress on the possibility of a FIFA-standard stadium in Mombasa to serve the Coast region and position Kenya as a hub for international football and sports tourism,” Mohammed said in a statement.
The proposed facility comes as the government pushes ahead with the construction and renovation of stadiums in different parts of the country.
Among the projects is the Raila Odinga International Stadium, which is being built to meet FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF) standards.
Ruto has also announced plans to invest in sports infrastructure, including the construction of 32 new stadiums across the country.
Plans to Develop Young Footballers
The talks with Infantino also touched on efforts to improve football development and create opportunities for young players.
Ruto said the two discussed establishing regional technical centres that would help identify and develop young football talent.
“We discussed regional technical centres to identify and nurture young talent, strengthen grassroots football and create clear pathways for the next generation of Kenyan players,” Ruto said.
Mohammed stated that the meeting also addressed progress on the FIFA Arena project and plans for a modern technical centre.
The meetings have been held over a year since President Ruto met with Infantino at State House in August 2025.
Back then, the duo talked about plans for a KSh600 million National Technical Centre in Machakos, backed by FIFA.
The centre was to be used for housing the FKF offices and other facilities that will aid the growth of football in the country.
In Thursday’s meeting, Mohammed further informed Infantino on Kenya’s preparations to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) jointly with Tanzania and Uganda.