Kenya’s remarkable journey at the Phygital Football Contenders Tournament came to a close on July 28, following a tough quarterfinal defeat to Brazil at the ADNEC Convention Centre in Abu Dhabi. Despite a spirited performance, the Brazilian side outclassed Kenya in both segments—winning 5-2 in the digital game and 5-1 on the physical pitch—for a decisive aggregate victory.

While the loss halts Kenya’s direct path to the Games of the Future, the national team leaves with heads held high. Making their debut on the global phygital stage, Kenya impressed by topping Group E ahead of powerhouses USA and Uzbekistan—an achievement that highlights the nation’s growing potential in the emerging sport.

Brazil now joins Armenia, Bosnia, and Mexico in clinching automatic qualification for the Games of the Future, scheduled for December 18–23, 2025, once again in Abu Dhabi. Kenya, however, remains in contention for one of six prestigious invitational slots, set to be announced later this year by Phygital International.

Esports Kenya President Ronny Lusigi lauded the team’s milestone performance:

“This being our debut, I can say the boys did well. The first objective was to qualify for the contender’s stage. Then the second was to get out of the group. We fell just one step shy of the big goal, booking a ticket to the Games of the Future.”
He added, “With the lessons we’ve picked, we guarantee you that Kenya will come back stronger.”

The national team is expected to return to Nairobi on July 30, having flown the flag high and laid a solid foundation for future success on the phygital world stage.