US says DRC team must isolate due to Ebola before arriving for World Cup

DR Congo will play its first World Cup 2026 match against Portugal on June 17 in Houston, but the team must isolate before entering the United States. A 21-day isolation period is required while the delegation remains in a bubble where it is currently training in Belgium. Failure to maintain the bubble could result in denied entry to the US. The team is based outside the central African country, with players competing professionally in Europe, including in England and France. The requirement is tied to an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including a rare Bundibugyo form, with many deaths reported among suspected cases. DRC cancelled a training camp in Kinshasa and relocated to Belgium.

"DR Congo play their first World Cup 2026 game against Portugal on June 17 in Houston, but must isolate first. Due to an Ebola outbreak in their country, members of the Democratic Republic of Congo's national football team must isolate before entering the US for the World Cup. Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, confirmed on Friday that the Congolese delegation must maintain a bubble where they currently are training in Belgium and isolate for 21 days or risk being denied 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 told ESPN. 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 US. We cannot be any clearer. All of DRC's team members, along with French head coach Sebastien Desabre, are based outside of the central African country."

"Giuliani said the US is not taking any chances when it comes to health and safety issues surrounding the World Cup. We want to make sure that there is nothing that's going to come in or near our borders here on this, he said. Earlier this month, DRC confirmed an outbreak of a rare form of Ebola called Bundibugyo. More than 130 people have died among the nearly 600 suspected cases."

"DRC cancelled its training camp in the capital city of Kinshasa amid the outbreak and relocated to Belgium, where the team... Most play professionally in Europe, including defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham United) and forward Yoane Wissa (Newcastle United) in England's Premier League and captain and defender Chancel Mbemba (Lille) in France's Ligue 1."

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