Ebola fears cancel DR Congo's World Cup warm-up match against Chile

Preparations for the DR Congo national football team's World Cup campaign have been disrupted by the cancellation of a friendly match against Chile due to health concerns related to the Ebola outbreak.

The match, scheduled for June 9 in La Linea de la Concepcion, Spain, was called off after regional health authorities advised against it as a precautionary measure. The mayor of La Linea confirmed the postponement, citing potential health risks.

The DR Congo team is currently in Belgium, having abandoned their planned training camp in Kinshasa. While players based abroad have not recently traveled to the Democratic Republic of Congo, some staff and fans have arrived from the country, increasing risk assessment concerns. This situation has led to increased health measures, including restrictions on entry for non-U.S. citizens arriving from affected regions like DR Congo and Uganda.

DR Congo is set to make its first World Cup appearance since 1974. The team plans to base themselves in Houston for the tournament, with their opening match against Portugal scheduled for June 17.