FECOFA Assures FIFA Over Ebola Concerns Ahead of 2026 World Cup
The Democratic Republic of Congo Football Federation (FECOFA), led by Veron Mosengo Omba, has responded to concerns over the Ebola outbreak in the country ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In a statement released by the federation, FECOFA said a videoconference meeting was held on Saturday, March 23, 2026, with representatives of FIFA, the federation president and the fourth vice-president to discuss the Ebola situation and its possible effect on the DR Congo national team, the Leopards, their coaching crew and supporters expected to travel to the United States for the tournament.
FECOFA assured FIFA that all necessary safety measures had been put in place to protect players and officials from the virus while also following the health guidelines introduced by the United States authorities.
The federation explained that most of the players selected for the World Cup, as well as many members of the technical crew, are based in Europe, which reduces fears over possible exposure to the disease.
FECOFA also revealed that the Leopards had originally planned to begin their pre-World Cup training camp in Kinshasa before travelling to Belgium and later the United States.
However, the Kinshasa part of the camping programme has now been cancelled because of the new travel and health rules introduced by the American government.
According to the statement, members of the technical crew who left Kinshasa for Belgium on May 20, 2026, will spend at least 21 days in Europe before travelling to the United States for the World Cup.
After discussions between both bodies, FECOFA and FIFA reportedly agreed that the players and technical staff had met the health requirements set by the American authorities and should continue their preparations for the competition without interruption.
FECOFA president Veron Mosengo Omba also raised concerns about Congolese fans who had already bought tickets for the World Cup but could not secure visas because of administrative regulations in the United States.
The federation added that FIFA has promised to look into FECOFA’s request for possible refunds for the affected supporters.
