FIFA Series: Harambee Starlets out to prove mettle against Australia as Malawi face India

The 2026 Women's FIFA Series draws curtains on Wednesday, 15 April, with two tantalising matches lined up at the Nyayo National Stadium.

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The much-anticipated final between Kenya's Harambee Starlets and the Matildas of Australia will go down on Wednesday evening, with Malawi and India acting as the curtain raiser.

The inaugural FIFA Series is an initiative by the world football governing body to set up international friendlies during the official FIFA international breaks that bring together teams from different continents that would otherwise probably not meet.

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The Series has been taking place in three different continents and four different countries with editions in Brazil, Thailand, the Ivory Coast and Kenya with a total of 16 teams; four in each group.

Kenya vs Australia

Kenya takes on Australia in the FIFA Series final that is scheduled for a 1730 hrs kick off under the Nyayo floodlights.

Harambee Starlets qualified for the final following their impressive 2-0 victory over India in the opening clash staged on Saturday, 11 April.

Ranked 134th globally, Kenya dominated India, which sits 67th in the FIFA rankings and will be seeking to have an improved performance when they take on Australia.

With the Matildas ranked 15th globally, Kenya will be out to replicate the David versus Goliath battle on the pitch if they are to win the title on home soil, a challenge head coach Beldine Odemba relishes.

“It is a big game for us. We have never played against them, but we are prepared and happy to play against a tough opponent.

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We have always believed that to be a big team, we must play against big teams, and we are glad that it is happening. We will have plenty of lessons to learn as a team and as a country, and even for me to play against a team that has qualified for the World Cup nine times,” said Odemba.

The former Kenya Police Bullets FC tactician also revealed that her team is well aware of the Australian threat and quality.

“The girls are psychologically prepared and know that they are facing big players and a tactical team that is way better than us, and so they have equally prepared to play a tactical game,” she added.

Her Australian counterpart Joe Montemurro took time to hail the Kenyan team even as he urged fans to turn up in large numbers.

“Kenya is a very good and dominant team. We watched them against India, and they are very powerful. Looks like we will face a team that is well organised, and therefore we expect a good game.

We also got what we all wanted in this Series - a Kenya versus Australia final, and now let us hope that we will have a full stadium,” said Montemurro.

Malawi vs India

In the other match of the day, Malawi will face off with India in the third-place playoff that will kick off at 1400 hrs, serving as a curtain raiser for the final.

Malawi suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat to World giants Australia in their opening match, while India were the victims of a 2-0 thumping by Kenya.

Just like Kenya, Malawi have qualified for the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations and are therefore using the Series as part of their preparations for the continental tourney that will kick off on Saturday, 25 July.

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“We have learnt a lot, both positive and negative, from our first match and have tried as much to correct the mistakes and polish our strengths heading into the India match, but importantly, ahead of WAFCON.

Against India, we will play a much more attacking football because we have to score and win the match. We cannot afford to go back to Malawi empty-handed,” said coach Lovemore Fazili.

The Malawian tactician also revealed that the team is even more motivated after a visit to the Nairobi National Park courtesy of Magical Kenya.

For India head coach Crispin Chettri, the match provides them with an avenue to make amends even as they continue developing.

“We took a lot of lessons from the Kenya defeat, which involved a lot of running just like we expected and are ready to make corrections against Malawi,” stated Chettri.

The 51-year-old tactician also took time to suggest ways of improving the FIFA Series.

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“It is a good initiative and one that should not even focus majorly on the FIFA rankings, as I believe it is unfair to compare continents that rarely meet.

I also believe that it would be even better when all teams face each other and have the experience of facing different teams across the globe. My players, for instance, would get the chance to play a highly ranked Australia that some of their idols are in the team,” he remarked.