Everything is turned upside down for the Democratic Republic of Congo. Three weeks before the start of the 2026 World Cup, the national team is forced to modify its preparation due to the Ebola epidemic which has hit the country since the beginning of the month.
Indeed, according to the latest estimates relayed by the French government, 131 people have died, and 513 suspected cases were recorded in the DRC as of May 19. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the virus – which causes a highly contagious hemorrhagic fever – as “health emergency of international concern”.
Thus, the leaders of the Congolese Football Federation (Fecofa) took the decision to cancel a stage of their preparation course planned in the country, as announced by one of their representatives at theAgence France Presse (AFP) this Wednesday. This, lasting three days, will therefore not take place in Kinshasa, but in Belgium.
DR Congo will go to the World Cup
However, the Leopards are not worried about a potential challenge to their coming to North America. Still according toAFPthe United States expects that
“the DRC team can participate in the World Cup”indicated an American state official, on condition of anonymity.
In the event of passing through the Central African country during the last 21 days before entering North American territory, members of the selection will be subject to strict control.
Good news for Sébastien Desabre’s men, whose base camp is in Houston, Texas, who will face Portugal (June 17), Colombia (June 24) and Uzbekistan (June 28) for Group K.
