DRC to continue World Cup preparations amid Ebola health concerns

US World Cup Cohosts Issue Warning to Congolese Team Over Ebola Fears

The United States, cohosting the 2026 World Cup, has issued a warning to the Democratic Republic of Congo team regarding their travel preparations due to concerns over the Ebola virus. According to Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, the Congolese delegation must maintain a bubble where they are training in Belgium and isolate for 21 days before arriving in the US.

Giuliani stated that the team’s safety is a top priority, and any deviation from this protocol could result in denial of entry. The Congolese team will be based in Houston during the tournament and will play several matches, including an opening fixture against Portugal on June 17.

A spokesperson for the Congolese team confirmed that their training program remains unchanged, with all players based outside the DRC, mostly in Europe. However, a few team officials did arrive at the training camp in Belgium earlier this week. The team had planned to visit Kinshasa next week as a celebratory send-off before heading to the World Cup, but this trip has been cancelled.

The World Health Organization has raised the risk of the Ebola outbreak turning into a national emergency and declared it an international concern. Nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths have been recorded in the DRC since the outbreak began.

Source: Al Jazeera