The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remains steadfast in its preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite a warning from the United States regarding a necessary 21-day isolation period due to an Ebola outbreak in the country. A team official confirmed that there will be no alterations to their training schedule.

US Warning and Team's Response

Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, stated that the Congolese delegation must maintain a training bubble in Belgium and adhere to the isolation requirement to avoid being denied entry into the United States. "We’ve made it very clear to the Congo government as well that they need to maintain that bubble, or they risk not being able to travel to the United States," Giuliani told ESPN.

Training Plans and Schedule

The DRC team is set to be based in Houston during the tournament, with their first match scheduled against Portugal on June 17. They will also face Colombia on June 23 in Guadalajara, Mexico, and Uzbekistan on June 27 in Atlanta. Despite the warnings, a team spokesperson indicated that their training program remains unchanged, with no players currently in the squad coming from the DRC. Most of the players are based in Europe, along with coach Sebastien Desabre. A planned celebratory trip to Kinshasa has been canceled in light of the situation.

The World Health Organization has raised the risk level of the Ebola outbreak in the DRC to "very high," with nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths reported. As the team prepares for its first World Cup appearance in 52 years, they are focused on maintaining their training regimen while navigating the challenges posed by the outbreak.