US Allows Congo Team Entry Despite Ebola Outbreak Ahead of World Cup 2026

The Ebola virus spreading in Africa poses a potential threat to the 2026 World Cup.

Although the United States has implemented strict health measures to prevent the spread of Ebola, it will permit the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) national football team to enter the country for the 2026 World Cup, where they are placed in the group with Portugal.

On Monday, Washington announced tightened health protocols at its borders, banning entry to foreigners who have visited Uganda, DR Congo, or South Sudan within the previous 21 days.

However, a US official, speaking anonymously and as reported by the French network RMC, confirmed that the DR Congo team will be allowed to participate in the World Cup in the US despite the epidemic in their country.

The official from the US State Department said, "We expect the DR Congo team to be able to participate in the World Cup."

He clarified that the Congolese team is already training in Europe, so the travel ban criteria may not apply to them.

Furthermore, the official added that if any team member traveled to DR Congo within 21 days before entering the US, they would receive an exemption permitting entry but would be subject to strict health procedures. These include the same testing and isolation protocols applied to Americans returning from DR Congo.

He emphasized that this exemption does not extend to Congolese fans.

The DR Congo team's training camp is scheduled to be in Houston, Texas. They are in Group 11 alongside Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan.

The Congolese team will face Portugal on June 17 in Houston, Colombia on June 24 in Guadalajara, Mexico, and Uzbekistan on June 28 in Atlanta.

The US official did not address the issue of the team's entry into Mexico.

DR Congo qualified for the World Cup after defeating Jamaica 1-0 in the continental playoff on March 31, marking the country's second-ever World Cup qualification after Zaire's participation in 1974.