Newly appointed Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has made an ambitious promise to lead Kenya to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada.McCarthy’s declaration of hope resembles a miracle pledge, as Kenya currently sits fourth in Group F of the qualifiers with just four points from four matches.Ivory Coast leads the group with ten points and are widely considered favourites to advance. This also means Kenya will have to win all their remaining six matches and hope that their opponents falter.##NAJAVA_MECA_8744404##Kenya’s journey in the qualifiers began with a 2-1 loss to Gabon, followed by a resounding 5-0 victory over Seychelles. Subsequent draws against Burundi and Ivory Coast left the team in a precarious position.Now, Kenya must win their upcoming matches—an away fixture against The Gambia and a home clash with Gabon in Nairobi—to breathe new life into their World Cup qualification hopes.Speaking on Monday during his unveiling as the new head coach, McCarthy emphasized his desire to bring the World Cup experience to Kenya.”Participating in the World Cup is one of the most special feelings in the world, and I want to give that to Kenya,” he said.FKFPL Preview: Table toppers Kenya Police seeking first league win over AFC Leopards”With the right mindset, dedication from the players, and a willingness to learn and give everything for the cause, I believe we can surprise a lot of people and still qualify for the World Cup.”McCarthy further noted that his experience would be key to helping Kenya collect valuable points in the remaining qualifiers.”I’m looking forward to putting my experience into practice and bringing success to Kenyan football,” he explained.Benni McCarthy on why he took Harambee Stars job”With the right mentality, we can achieve our targets and make it to the World Cup. We want to win every point available to us. I won’t say it’s easy, but it’s also not impossible. We need to stay positive, and when the players see that the coaches are winners and want to win, they will push themselves as well.”McCarthy’s first game in charge of Harambee Stars will be an away match against The Gambia on Wednesday, 19 March. He is expected to announce his provisional squad in the coming days.Benni McCarthy-mania on show in rare Harambee Stars unveiling
