DR Congo’s World Cup journey begins in Houston amid smiles and hope

The Democratic Republic of Congo's national football team has arrived in Houston, Texas, for their World Cup campaign, holding an open training session for an enthusiastic local Congolese community. The team's journey to the tournament has been marked by challenges, including concerns over the Ebola virus outbreak, which had previously forced them to relocate a friendly match.

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We are focussed on the first game against Portugal and doing well.

Coach Sebastien Desabre expressed the team's focus on their opening match against Portugal in Group K. The squad, which also includes Colombia and Uzbekistan in their pool, is eager to compete after a long absence from the World Cup finals, having last participated in 1974 when they were known as Zaire.

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This is a chance for the Congolese community in Houston to come together and celebrate the team.

Fans from the Houston Congolese community gathered to support the team, viewing the World Cup appearance as a significant cultural moment. "This is a chance for the Congolese community in Houston to come together and celebrate the team," said local resident Christina Badibanga. "We want people to see and hear us, and we are all sharing pictures and videos on social media for the people back home."

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We want people to see and hear us, and we are all sharing pictures and videos on social media for the people back home (who could not travel to the tournament due to restrictions around the Ebola virus).

The team trained under sweltering humidity, with players showing smiles despite the conditions. The session was attended by children from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Houston, highlighting the broader community engagement surrounding the team's participation.

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We are excited to participate in the World Cup after so long and show the vibrancy of our culture. This is very important to us, to share it with the world.