Congo Football Team Faces 21-Day Isolation Before World Cup Due to Ebola Crisis
Kinshasa, 24 May 2026
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s national football team must isolate for three weeks in Belgium before entering the United States for the 2026 World Cup, following a deadly Ebola outbreak that has killed over 130 people. With their opening match against Portugal scheduled for 17 June in Houston, the team’s European-based players face unprecedented health restrictions that could jeopardise their World Cup participation if protocols aren’t strictly maintained.
US Health Authorities Issue Strict Entry Requirements
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 [1]. The United States has implemented these restrictions despite the fact that all of DRC’s team members, along with French head coach Sébastien Desabre, are based outside of the central African country [1]. Most players compete professionally in Europe, including defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka at West Ham United and forward Yoane Wissa at Newcastle United in England’s Premier League, and captain Chancel Mbemba at Lille in France’s Ligue 1 [1]. Giuliani emphasised the severity of the requirements, 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 US. We cannot be any clearer’ [1].
Deadly Outbreak Prompts International Emergency Declaration
The World Health Organisation declared the Ebola outbreak a ‘public health emergency of international concern’ on 17 May 2026, due to its size and spread to Uganda [3]. The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which the WHO raised to ‘very high’ risk on 16 May 2026 [2]. As of 21 May 2026, there were almost 746 suspected cases and over 176 suspected deaths [3], though The Guardian reported 82 confirmed Ebola cases and seven confirmed deaths in the DRC, with approximately 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths [2]. Earlier this month, DRC confirmed the outbreak of this rare form of Ebola, with more than 130 people dying among nearly 600 suspected cases [1]. The circulating Ebola virus species differs from those in prior major outbreaks, limiting the effectiveness of existing vaccines and treatments [3].
Team Relocates Training Base to Maintain World Cup Dreams
DRC cancelled its training camp in the capital city of Kinshasa amid the outbreak and relocated to Belgium, where the team has a friendly scheduled against Denmark in Liège on 3 June [1]. The team also has a friendly scheduled against Chile in southern Spain on 9 June [1]. A planned three-day trip to Kinshasa as a send-off before heading to the World Cup was cancelled due to the Ebola crisis [2]. DRC team officials have maintained their training programme, with a spokesperson confirming that ‘no player in the squad has come from DRC’ [2]. The team is scheduled to be based in Houston for the World Cup, with their first Group K match against Portugal on 17 June, followed by matches against Colombia on 23 June in Guadalajara, Mexico, and against Uzbekistan on 27 June in Atlanta [1].
US Response Highlights Broader Global Health Challenges
The United States has mobilised $23 million in emergency funding for DRC and Uganda, announced by the State Department on 19 May 2026 [3]. The CDC has activated emergency operations, assisting DRC and Ugandan officials and deploying supplies [3]. The State Department plans to finance the deployment of up to 50 Ebola Treatment Units and will deploy a Disaster Assistance Response Team to the DRC to coordinate resources from various US agencies [3]. However, the response occurs against a backdrop of reduced international health cooperation, following the US withdrawal from WHO and aid cuts by other donors [3]. The outbreak is occurring in northeastern DRC provinces, including Ituri and North Kivu, where conflict has caused mass displacement and complicated case identification [4]. Médecins Sans Frontières is responding with teams in multiple locations, having sent 3,000 PPE sets as of 19 May 2026, with 60,000 more awaited [4]. The organisation dispatched 8 tonnes of supplies from Kinshasa to Bunia on 19 May 2026 [4].