The new Talanta Sports Stadium in Nairobi will host its first matches in January 2027 after World Rugby on Tuesday confirmed the venue for the opening leg of next year's HSBC SVNS 2 sevens series, as Kenya steps up preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2029 World Athletics Championships.

The Nairobi leg will be played on 23 and 24 January 2027, followed by rounds at Estadio Charrua in Montevideo, Uruguay, on 20 and 21 February and at Nicolau Alayon Stadium in São Paulo, Brazil, on 27 and 28 February. Six men's and six women's teams compete at each HSBC SVNS 2 event, with the top four in each competition qualifying for the HSBC SVNS World Championship tournaments.

"We are delighted to confirm the return of Nairobi, Montevideo and São Paulo for HSBC SVNS 2 in 2027," said Sam Pinder, World Rugby's Sevens World Series General Manager.

Kenyans.co.ke reported that the fixtures will be the first scheduled matches at the complex. Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya said in early October that construction of the main stadium, formally named the Raila Odinga International Stadium, was more than 94 per cent complete, with the wider Talanta complex reported at over 92 per cent.

Africa's first World Athletics Championships

The stadium push comes weeks after Nairobi was named host of the 2029 World Athletics Championships, the first time the global championships will be held in Africa. World Athletics President Sebastian Coe announced the decision on 15 September after the World Athletics Council met in Budapest, Hungary.

Nairobi beat bids from London, Rome and Munich for the 2029 edition, with Munich instead awarded the 2031 championships. Both editions will be held in September, according to RTÉ.

"We were fortunate to have four outstanding bids for 2029 and 2031, and this was not an easy decision for the Council," Coe said, adding that Nairobi and Munich "ultimately presented two compelling propositions".

Coe described Kenya as "one of the great athletics nations". London's bid team said it was "deeply disappointed" by the outcome.

Nairobi has previously hosted the World Under-18 Championships in 2017 and the World Under-20 Championships in 2021, but lost its bid for the 2025 senior championships, which went to Tokyo.

Kasarani's double duty

The Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, is the planned venue for the 2029 championships, according to RTÉ, and is already being rebuilt for AFCON 2027, which Kenya co-hosts with Uganda and Tanzania from 19 June to 17 July 2027.

Athletics Kenya is seeking to use the AFCON works to meet World Athletics requirements and avoid a second round of costly construction later, Mozzart Sport reported on 6 October. Barnaba Korir, Athletics Kenya's Director of Youth Development, said Kasarani's failure to meet international technical standards had been a weakness in Nairobi's unsuccessful 2025 bid. A World Athletics delegation including Head of Competition Management Pierce O'Callaghan has inspected the stadium alongside Athletics Kenya officials led by president Lt Gen (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei.

Plans include laying a Mondo synthetic track and other facilities required for World Athletics certification. Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi said the government was confident it had the resources, that the current contractor could take on the additional work, and that Nyayo National Stadium could serve as a training venue but may also require upgrades.

The AFCON works at Kasarani, reported in detail by Kawowo Sports in August, include a new hybrid Bermuda-grass pitch, a new drainage system, 2,000-lux floodlighting, fully replaced seating, a spectator canopy, upgraded VIP and VVIP lounges, VAR facilities and modern media areas. Two training grounds at the complex have also been rehabilitated.

"We are firmly on course to deliver a facility that meets international sporting standards," Mr Mwangi said.

Officials have given differing figures on the stadium's final capacity. Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo has spoken of a 60,000-seat facility meeting FIFA and CAF standards, while Mr Mwangi referred to a 48,000-seat stadium in June. Mr Mvurya told the Senate in March that Kasarani and the Raila Odinga International Stadium are central to Kenya's hosting plans, with Nyayo, Ulinzi and Police SACCO facilities earmarked as training grounds.

What next

The January sevens tournament is set to be the first public test of the Talanta venue, while Kasarani's athletics-specific works will continue alongside the AFCON programme. The Talanta complex is also being prepared for AFCON next year.

Photo: Raila Odinga International Stadium at the Talanta complex. Raymond Omollo / Wikimedia Commons, CC0