The delegation of the team qualified for the World Cup, quarantined because of the Ebola epidemic
Article by Tudor Belivacă – Published Friday, 22 May 2026 23:34 / Updated Saturday, 23 May 2026 00:34
Selected from DR Congo live a real drama before the start of the World Championship in the USA, Mexico and Canada. The Ebola epidemic wreaked havoc in the country, and the players and staff had to take refuge in Belgium. Now, the delegation is required to maintain an isolation bubble for 21 days, that is until June 12, the day after the start of the final tournament, otherwise they will not be welcomed to the US.
The announcement was made by Andrew Giuliani, the supervisor of the 2026 World Cup. DR Congo would make their debut in the final tournament on June 17 at 20:00 against Portugal.
DR Congo national team quarantined in Belgium: “If I don't maintain that bubble, I risk not entering the USA”
“We were very clear with Congo that they would have to maintain the integrity of their bubble for 21 days before they could come to Houston on June 11.
I also made it very clear to the DR Congo government that they have to maintain that bubble or they risk not being able to come to the US. We cannot be more clear. We want to make sure that there is nothing that comes into our borders or comes close to them for that matter,” Andrew Giuliani said, according to AS.
The Ebola epidemic that has wreaked havoc in the Democratic Republic of Congo, causing more than 130 deaths in the east of the country, has scared the heads of the Federation in Kinshasa. DR Congo canceled the pre-World Cup training camp of the USA, Canada and Mexico (June 11 – July 19), scheduled in the capital Kinshasa, moving it to Belgium.
DR Congo squad for the 2026 World Cup
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Goalkeepers: Lionel Mpasi (Le Havre), Timothy Fayulu (Noah), Matthieu Epolo (Standard Liege)
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Defenders: Chancel Mbemba (Lille), Arthur Masuaku (Lens), Gedeon Kalulu (Aris Limassol), Joris Kayembe (Genk), Dylan Batubinsika (AEL Larissa), Axel Tuanzebe (Burnley), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham United), Rocky Bushiri (Hibernian), Steve Kapuadi (Widzew Lodz)
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Midfielders: Meschak Elia (Alanyaspor), Samuel Moutoussamy (Atromitos), Edo Kayembe (Watford), Charles Pickel (Espanyol), Gael Kakuta (AEL Larissa), Noah Sadiki (Sunderland), Nathanael Mbuku (Montpellier), Ngal'ayel Mukau (Lille), Brian Cipenga (Castellon)
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Forwards: Cedric Bakambu (Betis), Theo Bongonda (Spartak Moscow), Fiston Mayele (Pyramids), Yoane Wissa (Newcastle), Simon Banza (Al Jazira)
