D-19 before the kickoff of the 23rd edition of the World Cup. The United States, Canada and Mexico are preparing to host 48 selections for the first time, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, qualified after winning its intercontinental play-off. But the Leopards will have to deal with a significant health constraint before their arrival on American soil.
Due to the resurgence of the Ebola virus in the DRC, the White House imposed a strict isolation period of 21 days on the Congolese team before entering the United States. “We have been very clear with Congo: they must maintain the integrity of their bubble for 21 days before they can come to Houston on June 11”explained to ESPN Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House unit dedicated to the World Cup.
Risks of non-participation
Currently on training in Belgium, the Leopards therefore had to enter isolation this Friday in order to comply with American health requirements. “If other people join the selection, they must have a bubble separate from that of the team”also specified Andrew Giuliani. “If one of these people develops symptoms, it could jeopardize the participation of the entire team in the World Cup”he warned.
Based in Houston, Texas, during the competition, the DRC will play in Group K. The Congolese will begin against Portugal on June 17 in Houston before facing Colombia on June 23 in Guadalajara, Mexico, then Uzbekistan on June 27 in Atlanta. The decision comes as the World Health Organization issued an international health alert over an Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC, describing the epidemic risk as “very high” nationally.
