DR Congo expected to receive U.S. Travel Exemption for 2026 World Cup despite Ebola Outbreak

The Democratic Republic of Congo's national team is anticipated to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite the U.S. having recently imposed a travel ban on the nation following an Ebola outbreak.

The 2026 World Cup is now less than a month away, with the soccer headlines this week dominated by Arsenal ending its 22-year wait for a Premier League title. Meanwhile, further turmoil erupted in England after the EFL confirmed that Southampton had been expelled from the Championship Playoff Final following the fallout from 'Spygate,' with Middlesbrough reinstated for the most lucrative game in soccer.

Earlier this week, the U.S. also announced a travel ban on DR Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan following an Ebola outbreak, prompting questions about whether Sébastien Desabre's squad will be permitted to compete in the World Cup next month. The travel ban applies to anyone without a U.S. passport who has visited any of the three nations over the past three weeks, as per The Mirror US.

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A statement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention read, "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and other appropriate federal agencies, are taking proactive measures to protect the health and safety of the American public in response to ongoing Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreaks."

It adds that there will be "entry restrictions on non-US passport holders if they have been in Uganda, DRC, or South Sudan in the previous 21 days."

However, despite there being question marks surrounding whether DR Congo will be able to compete next month, those fears have been allayed, after it was reported the team will be able to enter the U.S. via a travel exemption.

"We expect the DRC team to be able to attend the World Cup," a Department of State official told Al Jazeera.

They added, "We're working to get them into the same protocol for testing in isolation that American citizens returning and permanent residents would be."

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Following the Ebola outbreak, DR Congo has canceled the Kinshasa leg of its pre-World Cup training due to the spread of the virus, which is believed to have killed 136 people according to officials.

"Our team's preparation program is proceeding as planned in Europe and Houston," a DR Congo spokesperson told Politico.com. "It is the Kinshasa leg that has been canceled due to health restrictions."

Last week, World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus admitted to being "deeply concerned about the scale and speed of the epidemic."

FIFA has also said it is monitoring the situation regarding the Ebola outbreak and is "in close communication with the Congo DR Football Association to ensure that the team are made aware of all medical and security guidance."

DR Congo secured their World Cup berth in March following a victory over Jamaica in the intercontinental playoffs. They open their tournament campaign on June 17 against Portugal in Houston.