The Democratic Republic of Congo has formally asked FIFA to refund the cost of 2026 World Cup tickets purchased by supporters who are now unable to travel due to Ebola-related restrictions affecting entry into the United States.
The appeal comes as the country prepares for its first appearance at football’s biggest tournament since 1974, but growing public health concerns are threatening to prevent a significant number of fans from attending matches in person.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency on 16 May following an Ebola outbreak in central and East Africa. Officials report more than 900 suspected cases and 223 suspected deaths linked to the outbreak, with the majority recorded in DR Congo.
In response to the situation, the United States has imposed travel restrictions preventing entry for non-US citizens who have been in DR Congo, Uganda or South Sudan within 21 days of arrival. The US embassy in Kinshasa has also suspended visa services, leaving many fans unable to secure travel documentation.
Veron Mosengo-Omba, president of DR Congo’s football federation (Fecofa), said the situation has left supporters in a difficult position after purchasing expensive tickets.
“We asked Fifa if this is possible to take this into consideration, because the tickets are little bit expensive,” he told BBC Sport Africa.
“They are punished because they cannot get [in to the US] to see the World Cup to support their team.
“We don’t want our supporters who love football, who love the World Cup, to lose everything.”
FIFA has acknowledged the request, stating that it will review the situation, although it noted that its standard policy is to allow ticket resale or transfer rather than refunds, except in exceptional circumstances such as match cancellations.
The issue is further complicated by the structure of the 2026 tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, with ticket prices already significantly higher than previous editions due to FIFA’s dynamic pricing model.
DR Congo’s group fixtures are also spread across the three host nations. Their opening match against Portugal on 17 June will take place in Houston, meaning supporters would need to leave central Africa well in advance to comply with US entry restrictions.
As a result, many fans are expected to redirect their travel plans towards Mexico, where DR Congo will face Colombia in Guadalajara. Their final group match against Uzbekistan is scheduled to be held in Atlanta, further complicating travel arrangements for supporters.
Despite the restrictions affecting fans, DR Congo’s squad itself is not impacted by the US entry rules. All 26 players, along with most of the technical staff, are based outside the country, allowing them to meet travel requirements without issue.
Team officials from DR Congo have already left the country to comply with quarantine regulations, while the national team cancelled a planned training camp in Kinshasa and will instead prepare in Belgium before travelling to their base in Texas.
FIFA says it remains in “close communication” with Fecofa, host governments and health authorities as it continues to monitor the situation ahead of the tournament.
