Ebola Outbreak Disrupts DR Congo’s World Cup Preparations
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have suffered a major setback following the outbreak of a rare strain of the Ebola virus in the country.
The Congolese national team were forced to cancel their planned training camp ahead of the tournament as health officials continue efforts to control the spread of the disease.
FIFA has confirmed that it is monitoring the situation closely and remains in discussions with the relevant authorities over the possible effect on the country’s World Cup plans.
The health crisis has also led to new travel restrictions from the United States, one of the host countries for the 2026 World Cup.
The U.S. government announced that foreign nationals who have been in DR Congo within the last 21 days will not be allowed entry into the country.
Despite growing concerns, officials of the Congolese national team have assured supporters that the players are safe, explaining that most of the squad have been training and living in Europe in recent weeks.
Reports also stated that members of the team’s World Cup delegation who recently travelled back to DR Congo will have to complete compulsory quarantine before returning to camp.
The situation has created fresh uncertainty around DR Congo’s build-up to the global football tournament as health and safety issues continue to raise concerns.
