Nairobi
Nairobi follows football closely, from Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards supporters to estate teams that meet every weekend. The MCC Nairobi tournament gives those teams a 5-a-side season in 2027, with three grounds across the city, fixtures from 9 April through 9 May, and a route that ends at the World Final on 7 July.
Three grounds, three champions
Two halves of 15 minutes on a stop clock. Every team plays three group matches in a group of four, and the top two go into the playoffs, where a tie level after two halves goes to penalties. Five weeks of football on each ground leave Nairobi with three Pitch Champions, and each goes straight to the Country Championship.
North Nairobi
64 to 128 teams · $20,000 to its Pitch Champion
East Nairobi
64 to 128 teams · $20,000 to its Pitch Champion
South-West Nairobi
64 to 128 teams · $20,000 to its Pitch Champion
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Where Nairobi plays small-sided football
Five-a-side suits Nairobi, where space is tight and games happen after work. Turf pitches in Westlands, Kilimani and Lavington host corporate leagues, while estate sides in Kayole, Umoja and Kibera play on concrete and dirt, and campus teams at Kenyatta University and the University of Nairobi keep their own fixtures.
MCC keeps its format familiar. A squad has up to nine players, each half is 15 minutes with the clock stopped for stoppages, and a group of four plays three matches before the playoffs. Penalties decide any playoff that finishes level, at every stage.
North, East and South-West Nairobi
North Nairobi serves the Thika Road corridor, Kasarani, Ruaraka and Roysambu. East Nairobi covers Eastlands, including Embakasi, Donholm and Buruburu. South-West Nairobi takes in Karen, Langata, Ngong Road and Dagoretti. Each ground runs a full round of 64 to 128 teams, so players choose the one nearest to their home or workplace.
Matatus, boda bodas and ride-hailing cars carry most trips, and traffic on Thika Road and Ngong Road can stretch an evening journey considerably. That is the case for three grounds: a team should not need to cross the whole city on a weeknight.
The long rains and the road to the World Final
The long rains arrive in April and May, so cool mornings, cloud and heavy afternoon showers are likely. Group matches fall on 9 to 11, 16 to 18 and 23 to 25 April, and the knockout rounds begin on 30 April. Every ground holds its final on 9 May 2027.
Kenya has no second MCC host city, so all three Nairobi Pitch Champions go straight into the Country Championship, 28 to 30 May. The continental stage is next, and the World Final falls on 7 July 2027 after it, closing the ladder.
A season, not a one-weekend cup
Weekend cups and sponsored leagues are plentiful in Nairobi. MCC stands apart by lasting five weeks, with published rules, $20,000 for every Pitch Champion and a place on a ladder that runs national and then global. Only amateurs may enter, and each squad holds one Team License and names a Team President. A zero-tolerance conduct policy applies to every team.
The road out of Nairobi
- 01 · 9 Apr - 9 May 2027
Pitch Round
Groups of four on every pitch, three group matches each. The top two of every group go into the playoffs, and penalties settle a level playoff tie.
$20,000 - 02 · 28-30 May 2027
Country Championship
The Pitch Champions of each country play for the national title: two halves of 15 minutes, a league table, then the playoffs.
$150,000 - 03 · 2027
Continental Championship
Country Champions compete within their region for a place on the world stage.
$500,000 - 04 · 7 Jul 2027
World Championship
A five-team mini-league, then the World Final: two halves of 15 minutes, penalties if level. One MCC World Champion.
$5,000,000
Questions from Nairobi
How does a team enter MCC in Nairobi?
Register on this site and pick one of Nairobi's three grounds: North Nairobi, East Nairobi, South-West Nairobi. One Team License per team: USD 1,200 for one year until 1 March 2027 (then 2,500), or 5,000 for three years. Payment and KYC verification follow the application.
When does the tournament start in Nairobi?
The Pitch Round runs 9 April to 9 May 2027 on all three Nairobi grounds. The group matches are played on 9-11, 16-18 and 23-25 April, the playoffs from 30 April, and each ground's final on 9 May. Pitch Champions go straight to the Country Championship on 28-30 May 2027.
How many teams can play in Nairobi?
Up to 384: each of the three grounds takes up to 128 teams, and each needs a minimum of 64 to run its round. A full ground puts an entry on its waitlist instead of turning it away.
What can a Nairobi team win?
$20,000 per Pitch Champion, $150,000 for the Kenya title, $500,000 continental and $5,000,000 for the World Champion - plus championship rings from Country level up.
Can an estate team from Eastlands enter?
Yes. Any amateur squad of five to nine players may enter, provided it buys one Team License and names a Team President. Eastlands teams will most likely choose the East Nairobi ground, close to home.
Does a company team from Westlands play North or South-West?
Each ground is a complete round, so it is the team's own choice. Westlands teams can pick whichever ground their players reach most easily after work, either North Nairobi or South-West Nairobi.
Which Nairobi ground suits a team from Karen or Langata?
South-West Nairobi covers Karen, Langata, Ngong Road and Dagoretti, so it is the natural fit. Each ground takes 64 to 128 teams and plays its own full round, and a team enters the ground its players can reach most easily after work.
What does the Nairobi winner do after 9 May?
Each Pitch Champion wins $20,000 and goes to the Country Championship from 28 to 30 May 2027. Nairobi is Kenya's only host city, so the three champions play each other there, and the winner goes on to the continental stage.
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Claim a pitch in Nairobi
One Team License per team, for one year or three years. Squads of up to 9 are built in the MCC app after licensing. Registration takes the team, its coach and its Team President.
- USD1,200One year
- 5,000Three years