The Democratic Republic of Congo's World Cup squad have been placed under strict isolation requirements ahead of the 2026 tournament, after United States authorities ruled that all travellers who have been present in DR Congo, Uganda or South Sudan within the previous 21 days are barred from entering the country.
The ruling, enforced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), follows a deteriorating public health situation in the region. On Friday, the World Health Organization raised the risk level of the current Ebola outbreak in DR Congo from "high" to "very high" — a significant escalation that has prompted urgent logistical changes for the African nation's football squad.
Training camp cancelled, squad relocated to Belgium
DR Congo's original pre-tournament training camp, scheduled to be held in Kinshasa, has been cancelled. The squad are now based in Belgium and must remain there in a controlled environment if they are to have any hope of travelling to the United States in time for the tournament.
Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, was unambiguous about what is required. Speaking to ESPN, he said the squad must maintain a strict bubble throughout their time in Belgium.
"They need to maintain that bubble or they risk not being able to travel to the United States. We cannot be any clearer," Giuliani said. He also warned that any support staff or officials travelling separately would need to maintain their own separate bubble, adding that a single symptomatic case among associated personnel could jeopardise the entire squad's participation.
"If they end up coming, and any of those people end up symptomatic, they are risking the entire team being able to come and compete in this World Cup," he added.
Players abroad — but the restrictions remain tight
There is some relief in that all of DR Congo's selected players are based outside the country, meaning none of them will have been in DR Congo itself in recent weeks. That removes the most direct risk under the CDC's entry restrictions. However, the bubble requirement in Belgium still applies, and any breach — whether from players, officials, or support staff — could have serious consequences for the squad's World Cup prospects.
WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted on Friday that while the risk within the wider African region is classified as "high", the global risk currently remains "low".
Preparations continue — friendlies lined up before Group K opener
Despite the disruption, DR Congo are pressing ahead with their pre-tournament preparations. They are scheduled to face Denmark on 3 June in Belgium, before travelling to Spain to play Chile on 9 June.
The World Cup itself begins on 11 June and runs through to 19 July. DR Congo are placed in Group K alongside Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan, with their opening fixture against Portugal on 17 June giving the squad a stern test straight out of the blocks.
The situation remains fluid, and football's governing bodies will be watching events closely. For now, DR Congo's focus must be as much on public health protocols as it is on tactical preparation — an extraordinary position for any nation to find itself in ahead of a major tournament.
- Group K fixtures: DR Congo v Portugal (17 June); Colombia and Uzbekistan also in the group
- Isolation requirement: 21 days out of DR Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan before US entry
- WHO risk level: Raised from "high" to "very high" for DR Congo on Friday
Frequently asked
- Why do DR Congo have to isolate before the 2026 World Cup?
- The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has banned entry to non-Americans who have been in DR Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan in the 21 days before travel, due to the ongoing Ebola outbreak. DR Congo's squad must remain in a controlled bubble in Belgium to satisfy those requirements.
- Which group are DR Congo in at the 2026 World Cup?
- DR Congo are in Group K alongside Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan. They open their campaign against Portugal on 17 June.
- Will DR Congo definitely be at the World Cup despite the Ebola restrictions?
- As of now, DR Congo's participation is not ruled out — all their players are based outside the country, so none are directly affected by the entry ban. However, US officials have warned that any breach of the bubble in Belgium could put the entire squad's travel at risk.