The FIFA World Cup 2026 will begin in June and we will see some of the world’s best national teams. Even though Kenya did not qualify for the event, people there love football and will be eager to support and bet on their favorite teams.
Based on our research at Efirbet, Kenyans will not support the teams at the World Cup in the way you might expect. There are loads of things that you probably don’t know, so let’s dive in and learn more about everything.
England Gets Tons of Love Because of the Premier League
If you know anything about football in Africa and especially Kenya, you know that the English Premier League is huge. In fact, some might say it is more popular than the local competition. Considering that so many people follow it, it’s no surprise that Kenyan football fans will support England at the WC 2026 one way or another.
Many football fans have grown up watching English football every weekend. They are familiar with the players, the rivalries and everything else that comes with those kinds of things. Needless to say, Kenyans also love betting on the English Premier League because bookies provide special odds.
With that said, most fans aren’t truly supporting England as a country. Instead, they support players they follow and most of them happen to be a part of the country’s national team.
England is one of the favorites for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026. It’s in Group L with Croatia, Ghana and Panama.
Brazil is Always the Emotional Favorite
Whether you are from Kenya, Nigeria, or any other country, there is no arguing that Brazil is going to be one of your favorites. The team that transcends generations has always been one of the fan-favorites. Aside from being the most successful national football team, Brazil almost always has at least a few global superstars on its roster. This makes the team even more popular.
Even though it’s been a while since Brazil won the World Cup, the team is among the favorites. Many Kenyans will watch the squad’s every game and will also try their luck betting on them. Bookmakers know that Brazil is one of the go-to countries, so locals can expect better odds and even special offers.
Selesao is in Group C, where it will meet Haiti, Scotland and Morocco. It’s definitely one of the more intriguing groups, and Kenyans can’t want to see what’s going to happen.
Argentina and the Power of Messi
Let’s face it, some countries have fans all over the world because of a few players. Argentina is definitely one of them because many people on Kenya will support the squad solely because of Lionel Messi.
He already immortalized himself during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where he lifted the trophy. Despite that, fans believe Argentina still has some fuel in the tank and can help the country achieve the same results next month.
Messi’s global influence is as big as that of Cristiano Ronaldo, so it’s no surprise so many people support him. His country is in Group J and it will face Austria, Jordan, and Algeria.
African Solidarity – Is There Such a Thing?
No one can deny the strong sense of continental pride in football. Some teams in Africa have become legitimate contenders in the last couple of years. As a result, we expect many football fans in Kenya to support their fellow African countries.
Not all countries will get the same treatment, however. Places like Morocco will most likely be a lot more popular than the rest. Morocco surprised the world 4 years ago with its results, and the team has every chance to do it again.
Senegal is also among the countries that could receive additional support from Kenyan fans. The country recently won AFCON 2025, but due to a major controversy, it had to hand the trophy over to Morocco.
Assuming that some African teams perform better than expected, the energy among Kenyan fans will build up quickly. However, if most teams are eliminated early, this could affect people’s interest.
Speaking of solidarity, we also have to mention that many football fans in Kenya actually support teams outside the continent deliberately. You can always find people who won’t be happy that their neighbors made it to the event when they failed to do so.
What Could Influence the Countries Kenyans Support During the Event?
I already pointed out some factors that could affect Kenyan football fans’ support. Beyond that, however, there are many aspects that have an impact on what people like and don’t like, and I’d like to share more details about them.
For starters, media exposure and familiarity are two major factors that impact Kenyan football fans. Teams that get consistent maritime will naturally garner more attention. The constant exposure to certain football teams in the lead-up to the event will boost their profile among fans.
The next element that will definitely impact the teams that Kenyans support is the betting odds. Sports betting plays a significant role in shaping which teams locals support. We at Efirbet are aware of it, so we provide Kenyans with the best bookmakers in the country and all of them will offer competitive odds for the WC 2026. Once these bookies start providing exclusive offers and boosted odds for a particular side, players will most likely focus on it.
Lastly, I want to address player influence once again because it plays a huge role. Players like Messi, Ronaldo and Mbappe are among the big reasons why people like Argentina, Portugal, and France, respectively. This also applies to football fans in Kenya.
