FIFA WC 2026: How the Ebola epidemic is disrupting the preparation of the DRC

The DRC Leopards began their preparation for the 2026 World Cup with a first training session in Liège on Tuesday, May 26. However, this preparedness is being disrupted by the ongoing Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Indeed, the United States—one of the co-organizing countries of the competition—has imposed strict health restrictions: anyone from the DRC must observe a 21-day isolation period in foreign territory before they can set foot on US soil. For the Leopards, the stakes are high: they must have no contact with people from the DRC during this period, or they will be denied access to the United States, where they will play two of their three pool matches against Portugal and Uzbekistan.

Two separate sanitary bubbles
These constraints first forced the national team to cancel the part of their training course that was supposed to take place in Kinshasa, notably a training session open to the public at the Tata Raphaël stadium. While all the selected players play outside the DRC, this is not the case for several members of the technical staff who reside there. These include Pamphile Mihayo (assistant to Sébastien Desabre), Robert Kidiaba (goalkeeping coach) and Dr. Bungu (team doctor).

In order to comply with American requirements, the selection had to be organized into two separate bubbles during its gathering in Europe, as explained by team manager Dodo Nlandu—himself arrived from Kinshasa—at the microphone of Top Congo FM. The trip to the United States will also be in two stages: the group coming from Kinshasa will take a commercial flight at the end of its quarantine, while the rest of the team will travel on a charter flight.

The group’s morale remains at its peak
Despite this heavy logistics, the team is preparing calmly. Almost the entire squad is already gathered in Liège; only Bryan Cipenga is still expected, the player having to play one last match with his club. The two friendly matches on the programme—against Denmark on 3 June in Liège, then against Chile on 9 June in Marbella—are for now maintained. However, no mixed zone will be organized in order to avoid any potential contact with people arriving from the DRC.

The final meeting of the entire group will take place directly in the United States. Staff members from Kinshasa will have completed their observation period without incident, especially since no Ebola cases were reported in 23 of the country’s 26 provinces. To date, only the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu remain affected by the epidemic.