The Democratic Republic of Congo remains steadfast in its preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite warnings from the United States regarding a potential Ebola outbreak. A team official confirmed that there are currently no plans to alter their schedule in light of these concerns.

US Warning and Isolation Requirements

Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, stated that the Congolese delegation must maintain a training bubble in Belgium for 21 days prior to their arrival in the United States. This requirement comes after a deadly outbreak of the Ebola virus in the central African nation. Giuliani emphasized the importance of adhering to this protocol, stating, "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."

Training and Match Schedule

The DR Congo squad is currently based in Europe, with no players residing in the country. They have scheduled a friendly match against Denmark in Liege on June 3, followed by another against Chile in Cadiz, Spain, on June 9. However, a planned celebratory trip to Kinshasa has been canceled. The team is set to play their opening Group K match against Portugal on June 17 in Houston, followed by fixtures against Colombia on June 23 in Guadalajara, Mexico, and Uzbekistan on June 27 in Atlanta.

In light of the situation, a team spokesperson reiterated, "We have kept our training programme. No player in the squad has come from DR Congo." The entire squad, including coach Sebastien Desabre, is currently training outside the country, primarily in Europe.

World Health Organization's Assessment

The World Health Organization has recently raised the risk level of the Ebola outbreak to "very high." Despite this, the DR Congo remains focused on their World Cup preparations, aiming to participate in their first tournament in 52 years.