Article by Adrian Duţă – Published on Wednesday, 20 May 2026 22:55 / Updated on Wednesday, 20 May 2026 23:12
The Democratic Republic of Congo has canceled the training camp for the World Cup, which was supposed to take place in the capital Kinshasa, due to an Ebola epidemic affecting the country.
The World Health Organization has reported 600 cases of Ebola in Congo and 139 deaths. The world body called the situation a “public health emergency of international concern”.
The Congolese national team moved its training camp to Belgium, due to the Ebola epidemic that broke out in DR Congo
DR Congo's federation said it has moved its training camp to Belgium, where the team is scheduled to play a friendly against Denmark on June 3. Another warm-up match will take place in Spain on June 9 against Chile.
“The team's camp in Kinshasa has been cancelled. It will now take place in Belgium”federation spokesman Jerry Kalemo told The Athletic.
“FIFA is aware of the situation regarding the Ebola epidemic and is monitoring it. We are in close contact with the DR Congo Football Federation to ensure that the team is informed of all medical and security recommendations,” a FIFA representative said, according to the source.
The US government is banning people who have visited the Congo in the past 3 weeks from entering the country
The United States government has invoked a public health emergency rule to deny entry to anyone who has visited the DR Congo in the last 21 days.
“This order is necessary to protect the health of the United States from the serious risk posed by the introduction of Ebola into the United States,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in the order.
The players of the Congo national team did not get to enter the country
The measure is in force for 30 days, and it will be decided whether it will be extended.
All 26 players in the DR Congo squad, announced earlier this week, play for clubs outside the country. None of the players returned to the country.
DR Congo's debut match at the final tournament is scheduled for June 17 against Portugal in Houston, 28 days away. The team will then play in Guadalajara against Colombia on June 23 and in Atlanta against Uzbekistan on June 27.
Travelers from DR Congo already face severe travel restrictions to the US due to strict immigration measures. However, there are exceptions for the delegations of national federations participating in the tournament.
The Congo national team for the World Cup
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Goalkeepers: Matthieu Epolo (Standard Liege), Timothy Fayulu (Noah), Lionel Mpasi (Le Havre).
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Defenders: Dylan Batubinsika (Larisa), Rocky Bushiri (Hibernian), Gedeon Kalulu (Aris Limassol), Steve Kapuadi (Widzew Lodz), Joris Kayembe (Racing Genk), Arthur Masuaku (Racing Lens), Chancel Mbemba (Lille), Axel Tuanzebe (Burnley), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham United).
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Midfielders: Theo Bongonda (Spartak Moscow), Brian Cipenga (Castellon), Meshack Elia (Alanyaspor), Gael Kakuta (Larisa), Edo Kayembe (Watford), Nathanael Mbuku (Montpellier), Samuel Moutoussamy (Atromitos), Ngal'ayel Mukau (Lille), Charles Pickel (Espanyol), Noah Sadiki (Sunderland).
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Strikers: Cedric Bakambu (Real Betis), Simon Banza (Al Jazira), Fiston Mayele (Pyramids), Yoane Wissa (Newcastle United).
