Due to the outbreak of the Ebola virus in the eastern region of the country, the Democratic Republic of Congo has postponed the training sessions for its national football team, which is set to participate in the FIFA World Cup 2026, originally scheduled to take place in the capital, Kinshasa. So far, the virus has infected approximately 600 individuals, with 139 confirmed deaths among those affected.
DR Congo plans to send the national team to Belgium for training sessions. The country is making its first World Cup appearance since 1974. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that the virus infection has not yet reached pandemic levels.
According to Jerry Kalemoka, spokesperson for DR Congo’s national team, international media have been informed that the matches scheduled in Europe before the World Cup will proceed as originally planned. DR Congo is set to play friendly matches in Liège, Belgium, against Denmark on June 3 and in Marbella against Chile on June 9.
The current outbreak is caused by a rare strain of Ebola virus known as ‘Bundibugyo.’ Government agencies are actively working to contain this outbreak. At present, there is no available vaccine for this virus. The WHO estimates that it could take approximately nine months to develop an effective vaccine. Additionally, the United States has imposed entry restrictions on non-American travelers who have visited DR Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan in the past 21 days.
