DR Congo to continue World Cup plans despite US Ebola alert

Les Leopards are set to face Denmark and Chile for friendlies before the mega competition.

The 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup is scheduled to take place in Canada, Mexico and the USA. The DR Congo national football team are one of the 48 teams battling for the prestigious title.

The Sébastien Desabre-led side have been drawn in Group K. They will face Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, Uzbekistan and Colombia in the group stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026, which begins on June 11.

Before stepping onto the grandest stage of them all, DR Congo are scheduled to take on Denmark and Chile in what are going to be international friendlies. The Leopards are currently training in Belgium. They are ordered to isolate themselves for at least 21 days amid the Ebola outbreak in their country.

According to Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the ⁠White House Task Force for the World Cup, if the Congolese contingent failed to comply, then they would be barred from entering FIFA’s flagship tournament. The DR Congo national football team will take on Portugal for their opening fixture, which is scheduled to take place on June 17.

Also Read: DR Congo’s FIFA World Cup 2026 squad faces 21-day isolation

DR Congo to continue FIFA World Cup 2026 plans

The DR Congo national football team were informed to isolate for at least 21 days amid the Ebola outbreak in the country. But recently, their spokesperson has come up and informed that there are no changes in their schedule as of now.

The official said, “We have kept our training programme. No ⁠player in the squad has come from DR Congo.”

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola poses a “very high” risk of spreading across DR Congo. This is obviously a serious concern to look into.

The Leopards will first have a face-off against Denmark in Liege, Belgium, on June 3 and will then lock horns with Chile in Cadiz, Spain, on June 9.

Congo DR have qualified for the FIFA World Cup after 52 years. They last graced the tournament in 1974. If they fail to comply with the norms, then the Leopards could be denied entry on the biggest stage of them all.

Along with the head coach, Sebastien Desabre, the entire squad is based in Europe, which is outside the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Meanwhile, their three-day trip to Kinshasa for a grand farewell has already been cancelled.

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