Ebola Outbreak Forces DR Congo to Relocate World Cup Preparations to Belgium Amid CDC Travel Restrictions

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been significantly disrupted following an Ebola virus outbreak in the country, forcing the national team to abandon a series of planned activities in the capital Kinshasa and relocate their pre-tournament base to Belgium.

A team spokesperson confirmed the change of plans, with team manager Dodo Landu moving to reassure stakeholders that the disruption remains manageable. Landu noted that the squad had only three days scheduled in Kinshasa to begin with, adding that the programme will be maintained in Belgium, with a planned event now set to take place in Brussels instead.

The trigger for the logistical overhaul is a travel restriction implemented by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in response to the outbreak. Under the CDC’s current measures, non-US passport holders who have visited DR Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within the preceding 21 days are prohibited from entering the United States. To guarantee unrestricted entry ahead of their scheduled arrival on June 10 or 11, all team staff members currently based inside DR Congo must depart the country by Thursday.

Among the cancelled Kinshasa activities were an open training session for supporters and an official send-off ceremony that had been planned with Head of State Félix Tshisekedi. The relocations are logistically less complex than they might otherwise be, given that the entire playing squad named for the tournament is based at clubs outside DR Congo, predominantly in Europe.

The Leopards qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 52 years — a historic achievement that included eliminating Nigeria’s Super Eagles during the qualifying campaign. Their return to football’s biggest stage has captured widespread attention across the African continent.

Once in North America, DR Congo will be based in Houston, Texas. Local Texas health authorities have confirmed they are coordinating closely with both the CDC and FIFA to maintain safety protocols throughout the tournament period.

On the pitch, the Leopards face a demanding Group stage schedule. They open their 2026 World Cup campaign against Portugal in Houston, before meeting Colombia in Guadalajara, and concluding their group fixtures against Uzbekistan in Atlanta.

The public health situation in DR Congo itself remains severe. According to reports, 600 suspected active Ebola cases and 139 suspected deaths have been recorded, underlining the scale of the crisis that has prompted the CDC’s intervention and forced a rethink of the team’s pre-tournament schedule.

DR Congo’s 52-year absence from the World Cup — their only previous appearance came in 1974, when they competed as Zaire — makes their qualification for the 2026 edition a landmark moment for football in Central Africa. The team will be hoping the logistical disruptions have minimal impact on their preparation as they face one of the tournament’s more challenging group assignments.