The Democratic Republic of Congo’s long-awaited return to this year`s FIFA World Cup has collided with a growing public health emergency back home, after the country’s football federation confirmed the national team’s pre-tournament training camp will no longer take place in Kinshasa.
As highlighted by BBC News in early reports around the developing situation, the decision follows the continued spread of Ebola cases in eastern DR Congo, with authorities and international health bodies closely monitoring the outbreak.
The Leopards are now expected to prepare in Belgium instead, away from mounting travel restrictions and growing uncertainty around the tournament build-up.
The country is preparing for its first FIFA World Cup appearance since 1974, with many fans hoping the 2026 tournament would unite communities through football celebrations in the capital before the squad departs for North America.
The outbreak, which is centred largely in eastern parts of DR Congo, has reportedly claimed more than 130 lives, although officials and agencies have published varying figures as investigations continue.
The World Health Organization has classified the outbreak as a ‘public health emergency of international concern’, though it stopped short of declaring it a pandemic.
A statement shared on the national team’s social media platforms confirmed that a public training session planned for 26 May in Kinshasa had been cancelled due to concerns linked to suspected Ebola cases in North Kivu and Ituri provinces.
Team spokesperson Jerry Kalemo later confirmed the squad’s training base would shift to Belgium, while scheduled friendly matches against Denmark and Chile would still proceed in Europe ahead of their World Cup opener against Portugal in Houston on 17 June.
Away from the pitch, frustration has surfaced among some supporters and journalists in Kinshasa after visa services at the US embassy were reportedly paused amid the outbreak response.
One sports journalist questioned why residents in Kinshasa, which is located roughly 1,800km from the epicentre in Ituri province, should face restrictions when no Ebola cases had been confirmed in the capital: ‘Why should the whole country be banned?’
Meanwhile, supporters had also expected President Félix Tshisekedi to attend the public training session before the team departed.
Health officials are also monitoring reports that the virus may have spread into South Kivu province after a confirmed case involving a 28-year-old traveller.
The outbreak has been linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which no approved vaccine currently exists. The WHO has warned it could still take months before a vaccine becomes available.
Additional concerns remain around access to territories controlled by the M23 rebel group, which has said it will cooperate with international partners to help contain the virus.
Despite the uncertainty, DR Congo’s World Cup campaign is still expected to move ahead.
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