FIFA Series: Australia’s Matildas overcome Kenya to lift title

Australia women’s national team shrugged off hosts Kenya 2-0 on Wednesday to lift the FIFA Series 2026 title with a perfect winning record.

Chelsea striker Samantha Kerr and Everton defender Clare Wheeler scored in either half to dampen the mood for the partisan fans at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.

The Matildas opened the series with a 5-0 victory over Malawi in the opening semifinal at the same venue on Saturday.

On Wednesday, the hosts, coming from a 2-0 semifinal win over India also on Saturday, showed resistance but could still not match the quality of their opponents.

How Australia seized advantage in FIFA Series

Kerr scored the opener from what was supposed to be a simple shot from a corner kick on the right.

The hosts’ defence failed to clear the corner kick which dropped onto the foot of the Chelsea Women’s striker before she fired towards goal.

Goalkeeper Lilian Onyango let the ball slip off her palms, and it rolled into the net in the 24^th minute. The visitors went to recess leading 1-0.

The Matildas increased the lead through Wheeler who twisted and turned past three red shirts before drilling her effort past Onyango in the 54^th-minute, courtesy of Kerr’s cut-back from the right.

📸 | Matchday Gallery#HarambeeStarlets #FIFASeriesWomenKe #FIFASeries pic.twitter.com/6wSvSzs9qE

— Harambee Starlets (@StarletsKE) April 15, 2026

The Harambee Starlets’ futile hunt for a consolation

Three minutes later, the eventual winners were denied a clear goal after the referee Yordanos Mulugeta declared that a strike by Arsenal forward Caitlin Foord did not land into the roof of the net but on the side on the half-hour mark.

The Harambee Starlets nearly snatched a goal but an Australian defender made a brave recovery tackle to thwart an attempted effort.

A few minutes later, Australia goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold produced a wonder save at the near post to deny substitute Enez Mango in what proved to be the host’s last clear chance at goal.