According to the US government, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s national soccer team will go into isolation for 21 days before the World Cup because of the Ebola outbreak in their homeland.
If the team wanted to enter the USA, all members would have to isolate themselves in a “bubble” for three weeks, said the White House World Cup official, Andrew Giuliani, on Friday (May 22, 2026, local time). His statements to “ESPN” lead to the conclusion that the DR Congo delegation immediately went into isolation, because he spoke of a possible entry on June 11th if the requirement was strictly adhered to. The team’s first game in Group K against Portugal is on June 17th in Houston.
The DR Congo delegation has also planned its base camp for its second World Cup participation after 1974 (as Zaire).
Training camp in Belgium
Giuliani said on ESPN: “We have made it very clear to Congo that they must maintain the integrity of their bubble for 21 days before they can then come to Houston on June 11th.” In another statement, Giuliani said his top priority was the “safety of the American people, the participating teams and the millions of fans.” The US government had previously promised the team entry into the USA.
The team is currently in Belgium preparing for the tournament. It had canceled a three-day training camp in the Congolese capital Kinshasa and also foregone a planned farewell event with fans there.
Danger loud World Health Organization “very high”
The Ebola virus is currently spreading in Congo. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the risk to public health is “very high”. The number of suspected cases is now more than 700.
A preliminary round game in Mexico
Other preliminary round venues for the team are Guadalajara, Mexico (opponent Colombia) and Atlanta (Uzbekistan).
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