Kenya face Turkey at the 2026 ISF Football World Cup in Suzhou, China.
Kenya beat Turkey on penalties to finish third in China, recovering from an opening defeat with only nine players.
Kenya schoolgirls secured bronze at the 2026 International School Sports Federation Football World Cup in Suzhou, China. They beat Turkey 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the third-place play-off.
The tournament ended at the weekend, with Kenya recovering from a difficult start to reach the podium. Along the way, the girls recorded emphatic victories over France, Mexico and Chinese Taipei.
Kenya schoolgirls recover from opening setback
Delays meant Kenya began their Group B campaign against Brazil with only nine players. Despite the numerical disadvantage, they limited the Brazilians to a 1-0 victory.
However, Kenya responded strongly in their second match, beating France 6-1 to revive their campaign. They then swept aside Mexico 9-0 in their final group fixture to secure a quarter-final place.
Those two victories gave Kenya six points and second place in the group behind Brazil. The Brazilians, meanwhile, won all their group matches to finish with maximum points.
Kenya continued their strong run by defeating Chinese Taipei 3-0 in the quarter-finals. That result set up a semi-final against Germany, who had eliminated Morocco with a 4-0 victory.
Penalty shoot-outs decide podium finish
Kenya held Germany to a 1-1 draw in regulation time but lost the penalty shoot-out 5-3. The defeat ended their title challenge, leaving the third-place match as their chance to claim a medal.
They then faced another shoot-out against Turkey after the teams finished level at 1-1. This time, Kenya prevailed 5-4 to take bronze, while Honegirls China beat Germany 5-1 in the final.
Meanwhile, Kenya’s boys failed to advance from the group stage but recorded victories against Chile, England and Croatia. Those results helped them secure a higher ranking.
Croatia won the boys’ title, beating Guinea 3-0 on penalties following a 1-1 draw. Germany also reached the podium after defeating Turkey in the bronze-medal match.
Officials target opportunities and 2028 title
Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association Secretary General David Ngugi said scouts had identified promising Kenyan players. He expressed hope that the exposure would help develop their careers.
Ngugi also pointed to Kenya’s 2024 World Games debut as an example of the potential benefits. He said some players from that team secured lucrative deals and now play for national teams.
Education Secretary Nelson Sifuna, meanwhile, said Kenya would begin preparations immediately for the 2028 World Cup. He identified winning the trophy as the target, with Grade 10 players forming the focus of team development.
