The Congolese Football Federation has confirmed that the DR Congo national football team will participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite recent concerns surrounding the Ebola outbreak in the country.
The federation announced in an official statement that the team received clearance to continue its World Cup preparations following discussions with FIFA over health and safety measures.
The decision comes after the cancellation of the team’s training camp in Kinshasa as a precautionary measure before talks with FIFA intensified to determine the nation’s participation in the tournament.
Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House task force for the World Cup, stated that the Congolese delegation will follow special health arrangements, including a quarantine period in Belgium, where the squad is currently based and preparing through a series of friendly matches.
According to the federation, a virtual meeting was held on May 23 between federation president Véron Mosengo-Omba and FIFA representatives to discuss the impact of the virus outbreak and the organizational measures linked to it.
The statement added that FIFA reviewed all health and safety protocols approved by the U.S. authorities organizing the tournament. The federation also stressed that the majority of players and coaching staff are already based in Europe, reducing the risk of exposure or transmission.
The federation confirmed that the Kinshasa training camp has been permanently canceled, with preparations set to continue in Belgium ahead of the team’s trip to the United States. Players and staff arriving from Congo will also be required to spend at least 21 days in Europe before traveling.
The statement concluded by confirming that FIFA approved the continuation of the team’s preparations after ensuring full compliance with the required health measures, officially giving DR Congo the green light to compete at the World Cup.
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