DR Congo football team cleared for entry into United States for 2026 World Cup

The Democratic Republic of Congo's national football team, "The Leopards," has successfully entered the United States for the 2026 World Cup, overcoming logistical hurdles related to the Ebola epidemic in their home country. The team's arrival in Houston was confirmed by player Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who stated that all members were admitted without problems.

To mitigate health risks, the delegation was subjected to a 21-day "sanitary bubble" isolation period in Belgium before traveling to the U.S. The team landed in Houston after a flight from Paris and cleared customs about an hour later. Wan-Bissaka, a right-back for West Ham United, assured that "everyone passed, no one was denied entry."

This entry approval comes after the team's recent 2-1 friendly match loss to Chile in Orleans, France. The match was initially planned for La Línea de la Concepción, Spain, but was prohibited by the local mayor due to fears surrounding the Ebola outbreak in the Central African nation. The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued an international health alert regarding the epidemic, which has reported over 500 confirmed cases and dozens of fatalities.

Congolese football officials have emphasized that no national team players reside in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They had canceled a planned training session in Kinshasa to adhere to health recommendations. Didier Budimbu Ntubuanga, the RD Congo Minister of Sports, had previously expressed confidence in the team's administrative clearance, noting that technical staff members residing in Kinshasa had already obtained their visas. The Democratic Republic of Congo, who qualified by defeating Jamaica in an intercontinental playoff, will begin their World Cup campaign on June 17 against Portugal in Houston.

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Everyone passed, no one was denied entry.