The Democratic Republic of Congo’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been thrown into uncertainty after the United States imposed strict quarantine measures on the country’s national football team, Les Léopards, over growing fears linked to the Ebola outbreak currently affecting Congo.
American authorities confirmed that all members of the Congolese delegation traveling to the World Cup will be required to complete a mandatory 21-day quarantine before entering the United States for their opening match in Houston, Texas, scheduled for June 11, 2026.
The decision follows a resurgence of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in DR Congo, an outbreak that has already claimed nearly 180 lives while infecting more than 750 people since late April 2026.
DR Congo has been drawn into Group K of the tournament and is expected to begin its campaign in Houston before facing Colombia in Guadalajara, Mexico, and later Uzbekistan in Atlanta, Georgia.
Speaking to ESPN, Andrew Giuliani explained that both the Congolese government and football authorities had already been informed about the mandatory health measures.
“We made it very clear to Congo that they must respect the 21-day quarantine before arriving in Houston on June 11. We fully communicated this requirement to the Congolese government, and there was simply no alternative,” he stated.
He added that the United States is determined to prevent Ebola from entering the country or spreading near World Cup venues during the global tournament.
Despite the outbreak inside DR Congo, many members of Les Léopards, including head coach Sébastien Desabre, are based in Europe, particularly in France. American officials believe this could reduce the risk of exposure if strict isolation protocols are respected.
Players and technical staff have reportedly been advised to limit contact with individuals arriving directly from Congo while the team prepares for its European training camp in Belgium.
The United States has also established several epidemic monitoring points across Europe and plans to send two medical specialists to Belgium to supervise the health conditions of the Congolese squad during training.
At the same time, Washington recently introduced temporary entry restrictions targeting travelers who have recently visited DR Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan. The emergency measures are expected to remain in effect for at least 30 days.
The Ebola crisis has already disrupted Les Léopards’ World Cup schedule. The team canceled planned training sessions inside DR Congo as well as a farewell ceremony that had been organized for supporters before departure.
However, the squad still intends to proceed with its international friendly matches, including games against Denmark on June 3 and Chile in Spain on June 9, 2026.
DR Congo remains one of Africa’s most closely watched teams after securing qualification for the World Cup in impressive fashion.
Yet with Ebola now overshadowing the nation’s football ambitions, concerns continue to grow over whether the health crisis could derail the team’s preparations for the biggest tournament in world football.
