UMVA has learned that the Democratic Republic of Congo's national football team has been instructed to isolate for 21 days before entering the United States for the 2026 World Cup due to the deadly Ebola outbreak in their country.
The DR Congo squad, currently training in Belgium, has been advised to maintain a 'bubble' at their training base to ensure their safety and the safety of others. This move comes after the US public health agency banned entry from non-Americans who have been in the DR Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan in the previous 21 days.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the executive director of the White House task force for the World Cup, Andrew Giuliani, has informed FIFA and the DR Congo team that they must remain in isolation for 21 days before traveling to Houston on June 11th. Giuliani emphasized that the team must maintain the integrity of their bubble to avoid any risks.
The Ebola outbreak in the DR Congo has resulted in 177 suspected deaths and 750 suspected cases, prompting the World Health Organization to raise the public health risk from 'high' to 'very high'. This development has significant implications for the team's travel plans and their participation in the World Cup.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the DR Congo team's coach, Sebastien Desabre, and all players are currently based outside of the country, predominantly in Europe. However, any additional team officials or staff arriving from the DR Congo will need to maintain a separate bubble to avoid any risks.
The DR Congo team is set to face Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan in the group stage of the tournament. However, fans of the team may face difficulties traveling to America due to the outbreak, adding to the challenges faced by the team.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that the team will stick to their pre-tournament schedule, including friendly matches against Denmark and Chile. Despite the challenges posed by the Ebola outbreak, the team remains determined to compete in the World Cup.
