DR Congo Moves World Cup Training Camp Abroad Over Ebola Concerns

The DR Congo national football team has moved its pre-World Cup camp to Belgium due to Ebola concerns in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The team will continue preparations in Europe, and US officials say they will still be allowed to compete in the World Cup under health screening rules.

The DR Congo national football team has cancelled its planned pre-World Cup training camp in Kinshasa and moved preparations to Belgium after an Ebola outbreak was declared in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to a team official who spoke to AFP.
The decision affects a camp that was originally scheduled to run for three days in the capital, Kinshasa, as the team steps up preparations for the 2026 World Cup. While officials did not explicitly confirm that the Ebola outbreak was the reason for the relocation, the timing comes shortly after authorities confirmed a new wave of infections in the country’s east, which has already triggered major public health concerns and international attention.
Health authorities say this is the 17th Ebola outbreak recorded in the DRC. The current wave has been linked to about 139 suspected deaths and several hundred probable cases, making it one of the more serious recent resurgences. The outbreak has raised fears of further spread, particularly given the country’s vast geography and limited healthcare access in remote regions.
A team press officer confirmed that no domestically based players have been selected for the national squad, meaning all call-ups are drawn from players based outside the country. This decision is seen as part of broader efforts to reduce disruption to training and minimise health-related risks as the team prepares for international competition.
Following the cancellation of the Kinshasa camp, the squad will now continue its preparations in Europe. Belgium has been chosen as the alternative base, where the team is expected to regroup and continue training sessions ahead of the tournament. Officials have not provided detailed commentary on whether additional health protocols influenced the relocation, but the move aligns with heightened caution across sporting and travel arrangements linked to the outbreak.
The DR Congo team has qualified for the World Cup, which will be hosted jointly by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. This marks only the second time in the country’s history that it will appear at the tournament, the first being in 1974 when the nation was known as Zaire.
During the competition, the team is expected to be based in Houston, where it will begin its Group K campaign against Portugal national football team on June 17. It will then face Colombia national football team in Guadalajara on June 24 before returning to the United States to play Uzbekistan national football team in Atlanta on June 28.
Despite the outbreak, a US official has said the DR Congo team will still be permitted to travel for the tournament. The United States has recently introduced travel restrictions affecting non-citizens who have been in Ebola-affected countries within a 21-day window, including the DRC. However, officials clarified that athletes and delegations may still be allowed entry subject to strict health screening and monitoring procedures rather than a blanket ban.
The US official added that the team had already been training in Europe prior to the latest developments, meaning many players may not fall under the most restrictive travel conditions. Even in cases where individuals have recently been in affected regions, they would likely undergo enhanced screening procedures similar to those applied to returning travellers from outbreak zones.
As preparations continue, football authorities and health officials are balancing sporting commitments with public health concerns, ensuring that the team’s participation in the World Cup proceeds alongside efforts to manage and contain the Ebola outbreak.