The Democratic Republic of Congo's national football team is required to undergo a 21-day isolation period due to an Ebola outbreak in their home country before they can enter the United States for the 2026 World Cup. This announcement was made by Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, on Friday.

Isolation Requirements for DRC Team

Giuliani emphasized the importance of maintaining a strict training bubble while the team is currently in Belgium. He stated, “We’ve been very clear to Congo that they should maintain the integrity of their bubble for 21 days before they can then come to Houston on June 11.” He further warned that failure to adhere to these guidelines could result in the team being denied entry into the U.S.

The DRC team is placed in Group K for the upcoming tournament, with their first match set against Portugal on June 17 in Houston. They will also face Colombia on June 23 in Guadalajara, Mexico, and Uzbekistan on June 27 in Atlanta. The team, including French head coach Sebastien Desabre, has relocated to Belgium for training after canceling their camp in Kinshasa due to the outbreak.

Ebola Outbreak and Health Precautions

Earlier this month, the DRC reported an outbreak of a rare strain of Ebola known as Bundibugyo, which has resulted in over 130 fatalities among nearly 600 suspected cases. In light of these health concerns, Giuliani reiterated that the U.S. is taking no risks regarding safety measures surrounding the World Cup, stating, “We want to make sure that there is nothing that’s going to come in or near our borders here on this.”

Most members of the DRC team play professionally in Europe, including notable players like defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka from West Ham United and forward Yoane Wissa from Newcastle United in the Premier League, along with captain Chancel Mbemba from Lille in Ligue 1. The team is scheduled to play a friendly against Denmark in Liege on June 3 and another against Chile in southern Spain on June 9.