The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has been forced to cancel its pre-World Cup training camp in Kinshasa due to an outbreak of the Ebola virus, dealing a significant setback to the team’s preparations ahead of the tournament. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the situation as a public health emergency, underlining the severity of the outbreak.
According to information reported by international media, the virus has so far resulted in 139 deaths, with more than 600 confirmed cases. The spread of the disease within DR Congo has prompted immediate changes to logistical arrangements for the national football team.
The Congolese football authorities have confirmed that the training camp will now take place in Belgium instead of the capital. As part of their revised preparation schedule, DR Congo are set to play a friendly match against Denmark on 3 June, followed by another fixture against Spain on 9 June.
DR Congo have been drawn in Group K for the World Cup, where they will face Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan. The tournament is scheduled to begin on 11 June.
Jerry Kalemo, spokesperson for the DR Congo team, confirmed the change in plans, stating that the Kinshasa camp had been cancelled and relocated to Belgium. A spokesperson for FIFA said the organisation is closely monitoring the Ebola situation and remains in regular contact with the Congolese Football Federation to ensure that all necessary health and safety protocols are followed.
In response to the outbreak, the United States government has introduced emergency public health measures. Under new regulations, individuals who have travelled to DR Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within the past 21 days are temporarily barred from entering the United States. Cases of Ebola have also been reported in Uganda and South Sudan.
The travel restriction will initially remain in place for 30 days, after which authorities will review the situation. If the measures remain unchanged, DR Congo may have to compete in the World Cup with limited support from travelling fans.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that the directive is necessary to protect public health from the serious risk of Ebola transmission into the country.
DR Congo’s World Cup fixtures are scheduled as follows:
| Date | Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 17 June | Portugal | Houston |
| 23 June | Colombia | Guadalajara |
| 27 June | Uzbekistan | Atlanta |
FIFA has confirmed that it continues to work closely with authorities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico to ensure that the tournament is conducted in a safe and secure manner. The organisation emphasised that the health and safety of all participants remain its highest priority.
Existing immigration restrictions had already limited travel from DR Congo to the United States. However, exemptions have been granted for official national team delegations participating in the World Cup.
The DR Congo squad for the tournament, comprising 26 players, was announced earlier this week. All members of the squad are currently based at clubs outside the country, and according to the team spokesperson, none have returned home amid the outbreak.
This marks DR Congo’s return to the World Cup after 52 years. The nation last appeared in the tournament in 1974 in West Germany, when it competed under the name Zaire. The upcoming edition, to be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, will be only the second World Cup appearance in the country’s history.