The United States has announced that supporters of the DR Congo national football team will not be permitted to enter the country for the 2026 FIFA World Cup because of restrictions linked to the Ebola outbreak.
The decision, issued by the United States Department of State, comes ahead of the tournament scheduled to take place between 11 June and 19 July 2026.
According to statements carried by Agence France-Presse, a senior US State Department official said the ban would apply to supporters travelling from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, although the national team itself would receive an exemption to participate in the competition.
The unnamed official said the exemption would apply only to the official delegation, including players and team staff.
The decision casts a shadow over what had been celebrated as a historic achievement for DR Congo football. The national side recently secured qualification for the World Cup for the first time in 54 years after defeating Jamaica national football team 1-0 in a global play-off earlier in April.
DR Congo are due to compete in Group 11 alongside Portugal national football team, Uzbekistan national football team and Colombia national football team.
Health Restrictions Behind Decision
The United States had already introduced restrictions on non-American travellers who had recently visited DR Congo, Uganda or South Sudan within the previous 21 days, as part of measures aimed at limiting the spread of Ebola.
Officials indicated that DR Congo’s national team had spent much of its recent preparation period in Europe, potentially placing many members of the squad outside the scope of the restrictions.
However, attention has focused on players who had recently been inside Congolese territory before travelling.
The senior official said: “These players will be subject to strict screening procedures, including isolation and health monitoring, similar to what is applied to citizens returning to us, without reaching the point of a complete ban.”
The statement suggested that players and officials would undergo enhanced health checks before being permitted to enter the United States for the tournament.
Fans Excluded Despite Team Exception
While the team has been granted special consideration, the same flexibility will not apply to supporters hoping to travel for the competition.
The official added: “We are working to include these players in a similar protocol of testing and temporary isolation for returning citizens and permanent residents, but this exception will never include fans coming from Congolese territory to support their national team in the tournament.”
The move is likely to disappoint Congolese supporters eager to witness their country’s return to football’s biggest stage after more than five decades away from the World Cup.
The 2026 tournament is expected to attract millions of supporters from across the globe, but the restrictions surrounding Ebola concerns have now created one of the first major controversies ahead of the competition.
