Players of the DR Congo national football team have been instructed to undergo a 21-day isolation period in Belgium before they can travel to the United States for the upcoming FIFA World Cup due to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Central Africa.
The team had initially planned to hold a training camp in Kinshasa, but the arrangement was cancelled following growing health concerns linked to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
According to reports, the Congolese squad is now training in Belgium under strict health protocols designed to ensure the players remain eligible to enter the United States for the tournament.
Key Highlights:
- Players of the DR Congo national football team have been ordered to complete a 21-day isolation period in Belgium before traveling to the United States for the FIFA World Cup due to concerns over the Ebola outbreak.
- The team’s planned training camp in Kinshasa was cancelled, and preparations have been moved to Belgium under strict health protocols.
- Officials from the White House World Cup Task Force warned that players must remain in a controlled “bubble” during the isolation period, with any breach potentially affecting their eligibility to enter the U.S.
- The U.S. CDC has imposed entry restrictions on non-American travelers who have recently visited DR Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within the previous 21 days, while the WHO has raised the Ebola outbreak risk level in DR Congo to “very high.”
- DR Congo will play friendly matches against Denmark and Chile before opening their World Cup campaign against Portugal on June 17 in Group K, alongside Colombia and Uzbekistan.
Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, reportedly warned that the team must remain inside a controlled “bubble” throughout the isolation period.
He stressed that any breach of the restrictions could affect the squad’s ability to participate in the competition.
The United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced entry restrictions affecting non-American travelers who have recently visited DR Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within the last 21 days.
However, most of the Congolese players are based in Europe and other countries outside DR Congo, reducing the likelihood of direct exposure.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has also raised the public health risk level of the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo from “high” to “very high,” citing concerns over the spread of the disease within the region.
DR Congo are scheduled to play friendly matches against Denmark and Chile before the World Cup begins on June 11.
The African side will open their tournament campaign against Portugal national football team on June 17 in Group K, which also includes Colombia and Uzbekistan.
