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DRC World Cup Group Stage Schedule
The scheduled matches for DR Congo in the 2026 World Cup Group K.
Primary Sources
DR Congo football team granted entry for World Cup despite Ebola ...
As the world gears up for the FIFA World Cup, significant attention is being placed on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) football team, which is set to compete despite recent health concerns. The United States has intervened to allow the DRC team entry, highlighting the nation’s commitment to supporting global sporting events while maintaining public health standards. This decision not only emphasizes the importance of international cooperation in sports but also showcases the resilience of the DRC in the face of challenges. The United States has announced an exemption for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) football team, permitting their entry into the country to participate in the upcoming FIFA World Cup, despite existing entry restrictions linked to an Ebola outbreak. A senior official from the Department of State confirmed that necessary measures are being taken to ensure the team can join the international sporting event, which underscores the United States’ commitment to fostering global cultural and sporting exchanges. Due to safety concerns, the U.S. has enacted a ban on non-American travelers who have been in the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within the last 21 days, reflecting a cautious approach in response to the Ebola situation. However, the DRC team, which successfully qualified for the World Cup, has been training in Europe and may not be subject to this ban, according to the official. Should any players or staff have traveled back to the DRC during that time window, they would undergo rigorous health screenings similar to those required for American citizens returning from affected regions. While the government is facilitating entry for the DRC team, the exemption does not extend to fans hoping to travel from the DRC to support their national team during the tournament. This has raised questions about the accessibility of such major events for everyday fans, emphasizing a need for balancing health directives and the unifying spirit of sports. The DRC squad is set to begin their World Cup journey on June 17 against Portugal in Texas, marking a significant moment for the nation on the global stage. As the world watches the DRC team, their journey serves not only as a tale of perseverance but also as a testament to the power of sports in bridging cultural divides and fostering international solidarity. #SportsNews #WorldNews
US to let DR Congo football team in for World Cup despite Ebola ...
The United States will permit the Democratic Republic of Congo's national football team to enter the country for the 2026 World Cup, despite travel restrictions imposed because of the ongoing Ebola outbreak. The decision is being made under tight health protocols.The US administration will allow DR Congo's national football team to enter the country for the 2026 World Cup, despite the general travel restrictions in place on Congolese nationals because of the country's ongoing Ebola outbreak. The decision was announced by Al Jazeera.It follows technical consultations between FIFA and the US Department of Health and Human Services. The team will move through a dedicated biosecurity corridor — from hotel arrival to training facilities — with players and staff under an isolation protocol outside match days.DR Congo qualified for the World Cup finals for the second time in their history through the latest qualifying round. While the outbreak has been concentrated in the country's east, the WHO issued an advisory this month. The US decision frames the sporting exception around principles of 'global solidarity and fair participation.'This article is an AI-curated summary of the original story published by Al Jazeera. The illustration is a stock photo by Siarhei Nester from Pexels and is not from the original story.
US to let DR Congo team in for World Cup despite Ebola restrictions
FC/M23 soldiers provide security for the movements authorities at the Rodolphe Mérieux Laboratory, National Biomedical Research Institute (INRB) in Goma, on May 19, 2026 during their guided visit to the laboratory responsible for analyzing and handling suspected Ebola cases. The World Health Organization on Tuesday voiced concern about the "scale and speed" of an Ebola outbreak that has killed an estimated 131 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and warned it could be lengthy. The UN health agency has declared the surge of the highly contagious haemorrhagic fever an international health emergency and called an urgent meeting on the crisis. No vaccine or therapeutic treatment exists for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola responsible for the outbreak, which has killed more than 15,000 people in Africa in the past half-century. (Photo by Jospin Mwisha / AFP) May 19, 2026 WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) —The United States (US) will ensure that the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) team are able to travel to play in the World Cup, making an exemption in an entry ban over Ebola, a US official said Tuesday. “We expect the DRC team to be able to attend the World Cup,” a senior State Department official said on condition of anonymity. The United States has banned non-Americans who have been in the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan in the previous 21 days from visiting due to the deadly outbreak of Ebola. The US official said the DR Congo team, the only one among the three countries to have qualified for soccer’s premier event, had already been training in Europe so may not have been subject to the ban in any case. But if they in fact had been in DR Congo over the last 21 days, they will be subject to strict screening of the sort required for returning American citizens — not a complete ban. “We’re working to get them into the same protocol for testing in isolation that American citizens returning and permanent residents would be,” the official said. The official said that the exemption would not apply to ordinary fans from DR Congo looking to come to cheer on the team.
US to let DR Congo team in for World Cup despite Ebola restrictions
WASHINGTON - The United States will ensure that the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) team are able to travel to play in the World Cup, making an exemption to an entry ban over Ebola, a US official said on May 19.“We expect the DRC team to be able to attend the World Cup,” a senior State Department official said on condition of anonymity.The United States has banned non-Americans who have been in the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan in the previous 21 days from visiting due to the deadly outbreak of Ebola.The US official said the DR Congo team, the only one among the three countries to have qualified for football’s premier event, had already been training in Europe. so they may not have been subject to the ban in any case.But if they in fact were in DR Congo over the last 21 days, they would be subject to strict screening of the sort required for returning American citizens – not a complete ban.“We’re working to get them into the same protocol for testing in isolation that American citizens returning and permanent residents would be,” the official said.The official said that the exemption would not apply to ordinary fans from DR Congo looking to travel to America to cheer on the team.DR Congo have qualified for only the second time for the World Cup after playing in 1974, when the country was known as Zaire.The DR Congo “Leopards” plan to maintain a base in Houston, where they will play their first match on June 17 against Portugal as part of Group K.The team are scheduled to head to Guadalajara, Mexico to play Colombia on June 24 before returning to the United States to play Uzbekistan in Atlanta on June 28. AFP
