India 0-2 Kenya Highlights, FIFA Series 2026: Toothless Blue Tigresses Suffer Semi-Final Defeat

Good evening, football fans! This is the start of our live blog covering the women’s FIFA Series 2026 match between India and Kenya in Nairobi. Stay tuned for pre-match updates and line-ups as they are released.

After the national anthems are sung, the players take their formations on the pitch. The stadium is fairly full, with the home supporters making themselves heard with their colourful celebrations. Referee Josephine Nantongo blows her whistle, and it's India who get today's match underway.

Less than 70 seconds on the clock, and Kenya take the lead through Amunyolet. To be fair, a goal seemed like it was coming after a stunning start by the hosts, and Adhiambo's cross comes off the crossbar for the Kenyan forward to put into the back of the net.

India look really shaky at the moment, and Kenya almost double their lead. It was a similar routine, with a cross coming in from the left. Two Kenyan attackers came forward, but the shot from point blank range was straight at Hooda.

A bit of injury concern for India as skipper Xaxa collides with a Kenyan player and goes down in pain holding her neck. The physios are on to the pitch and tending to her. Hopefully, it's nothing serious.

A huge blow for India as Xaxa is carried off the pitch on a stretcher. Crispin Chhetri is forced into an early change Kaviya Pakkirisamy is brought on. A change for Kenya as well, with Norah coming on in place of Ingosi.

A swift cross from the right finds the head of Engesha, but the Kenyan striker, under no pressure, heads it way over the bar. Meanwhile, India are looking to slow down the tempo of the game and capitalise on set-piece opportunities, but the Kenyan backline has stood tall so far.

Kenya have used the flanks well, and a low cross from the right is not cleared properly by India. It falls to a Kenyan player who takes a shot from 40 or so yards away. The bullet strike almost catches Hooda by surprise, who gets down and puts it behind for a corner.

Due to the sizeable chunk of time spent during the injury-enforced substitutions, the fourth official adds five minutes at the end of the regulation period. Kenya, meanwhile, continue to attack and find a second goal before the break.

The referee blows her whistle to bring the first half to an end. It has been a very attacking 45 minutes, with Kenya doing most of the attack, and India content in sitting back and looking to hit on the counter. For now, Amunyolet's second-minute goal is the difference between the two sides.

The players are back on the pitch, and Kenya get the ball rolling as the second half gets underway. Two changes at the break for Kenya, with Madalina and Nekesa coming on. India also make a substitution, with Priyadharshini Selladurai replacing Lynda Kom.

Just when it seemed that Kenya had taken their foot off the gas a bit, the hosts hit with a perfect move than splits open the Indian defence, with Engesha finding the back of the net. A terrific through ball finds the run of the Kenyan forward, who does well to keep herself onside, and finishes past Hooda to find the bottom corner.

Hooda almost shoots herself in the foot, passing a routine kick straight back to Engesha. The Kenyan striker takes a snapshot that flies over the bar. She had more time than she realised, and should have done better with the gift given to her by the goalkeeper.

With time running down, Crispin Chhetri turns towards his bench to bring on Karishma Shirvoikar, who replaces Rimpa Haldar. Meanwhile, Kenya continue to boss posession and remain a threat every time they go forward.

Kenya are toying around India at the moment, passing the ball without any problem in front of the Indian box. After a good one-two at the penalty area's edge, the ball falls to Amunyolet, but her wild effort goes over the bar.

A searing run into the box by Mideva catches the Indian defence sleeping, and Hooda comes rushing out to put in a block. The resulting corner is floated in towards the far post, but the defenders clear it after a couple of attempts.

After four minutes of stoppage time, the referee looks at her watch and blows the full-time whistle. It has been a really poor performance from India, who deserved to lose this tie against a superb Kenyan team who seemed lifted by the home support.

The hosts are rewarded with a place in the FIFA Series 2026 final, where they will face Australia. Meanwhile, India will take on Malawi in the third-place play-off.