Why did DR Congo change FIFA World Cup 2026 preparation venue?
DR Congo will play two friendlies before their World Cup games.
DR Congo’s FIFA World Cup 2026 preparations have been hampered. The national team has decided to postpone their pre-tournament training camp in Kinshasa due to an Ebola outbreak.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently designated the epidemic as a health emergency. A team spokesperson stated that DR Congo will now host its training camp in Belgium.
WHO on Ebola: “public health emergency of international concern.”
On June 17, the Leopards will play their first FIFA World Cup 2026 match in Houston against Portugal. They will then play their remaining Group K matches against Colombia and Uzbekistan.
DR Congo to shift their training camp from Congo after the Ebola virus spread
According to The Athletic, the squad decided against preparing in Kinshasa because of the country’s ongoing Ebola outbreak. The move was confirmed by Jerry Kalemo, who stated:
“The team’s training camp in Kinshasa has been cancelled. The camp will now take place in Belgium.”
Prior to the competition, DR Congo is scheduled to play a warm-up friendly against Denmark in Belgium on June 3 and then go to Spain for another practice match on June 9 (vs Chile). The disruption follows news that at least 139 suspected deaths have been connected to the outbreak and that over 600 Ebola cases have been reported.
According to the report, the United States has introduced temporary emergency public health measures restricting entry for travellers who have visited DR Congo within the previous 21 days.
The restrictions currently apply for 30 days and also cover recent travellers from Uganda and South Sudan, where Ebola cases have also been reported.
However, the measures include exemptions for official national team delegations participating in the FIFA World Cup 2026. It means DR Congo’s squad and staff are expected to be allowed entry into the United States for tournament matches.
Why are DR Congo changing their venue?
Due to the Ebola virus spreading across the nation.
Where will they shift their venue?
Belgium.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.