The Democratic Republic of Congo’s 2026 World Cup preparations remain unchanged despite the US warning of a mandatory 21-day isolation period for the team before entering the country amid a deadly Ebola outbreak.
Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, confirmed to ESPN that the Congolese delegation must maintain a strict “bubble” at their Belgian training camp, or risk denial of entry.
“We’ve been very clear to Congo that they should maintain the integrity of their bubble for 21 days before they can then come to Houston on June 11,” Giuliani stated.
“We’ve made it very clear to the Congo government as well that they need to maintain that bubble or they risk not being able to travel to the United States. We cannot be any clearer.”
The Congolese team is set to be based in Houston for Group K matches against Portugal (17 June), Colombia (23 June, Mexico), and Uzbekistan (27 June, Atlanta).
A team spokesperson said there’s been no change to their schedule, which includes friendlies against Denmark (3 June) and Chile (9 June).
“No player in the squad has come from DR Congo,” the official said, explaining the entire squad and coach are based outside the DRC, mostly in Europe.
A planned celebratory send-off trip to Kinshasa has been cancelled.
The World Health Organisation raised the risk of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola to “very high,” declaring the outbreak in the DRC and neighbouring Uganda an emergency of international concern, with nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths recorded.
