The Democratic Republic of Congo’s national football team, the Leopards, has officially canceled its highly anticipated three-day World Cup preparation training camp and farewell ceremony in the capital city of Kinshasa due to health safety restrictions following an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus.
The decision comes after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the current epidemic—driven by the rare Bundibugyo virus strain—a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The outbreak, centered in the eastern Ituri province, has already caused nearly 600 suspected cases and claimed more than 130 lives. While Kinshasa is roughly 1,000 kilometers from the epicenter, the discovery of a laboratory-confirmed case in the capital forced team management to call off the domestic leg of their preparations to eliminate any risk of exposure.
World Cup Journey Unaffected
Despite the cancellation of the local fan farewell, team spokesperson Jerry Kalemo confirmed that the Leopards’ multi-stage training roadmap remains strictly on track elsewhere.
Because the vast majority of the Congolese squad and their French head coach, Sébastien Desabre, are based outside of the central African nation (primarily playing in European leagues), the team will skip Kinshasa entirely and bypass any potential logistical lockdowns.
The Leopards’ Pre-Tournament Itinerary
1.Stage 1: Belgian Exhibition:June 3, 2026.
The squad gathers directly in Europe to take on Denmark in an international friendly match in Liege, Belgium.
2.Stage 2: Spanish Warm-up:June 9, 2026.
The team travels to southern Spain for their final European friendly fixture against Chile.
3.Stage 3: Transatlantic Flight:June 11, 2026.
The delegation flies directly to their base camp in Houston, United States, to undergo final tactical adjustments under strict health and security guidelines.
US Lifts Ebola Travel Ban for the Team
There was immense anxiety that strict international health regulations might lock the Congolese out of the tournament altogether. However, the United States government—co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup along with Canada and Mexico—officially confirmed it has cleared the DR Congo national team to enter the country.
FIFA is actively working alongside the US Department of State, the CDC, and the Department of Homeland Security to establish robust medical buffers for the traveling staff.
“There were three stages of preparation: in Kinshasa to say goodbye to the public, Belgium and Spain, and the third stage in Houston. Only one stage was canceled—the one in Kinshasa.”
— Jerry Kalemo, DR Congo Team Spokesperson
The tournament holds deep emotional value for the nation. This marks DR Congo’s very first World Cup qualification since 1974 (when they competed under the name Zaire), a sporting triumph that brought rare moments of absolute joy to a country historically battered by eastern region conflicts. The Leopards will kick off their Group K campaign against powerhouse Portugal in Houston on June 17, followed by matches against Colombia in Guadalajara and Uzbekistan in Atlanta.
