Ebola outbreak forces Congo football team into quarantine before World Cup

The Democratic Republic of Congo's World Cup preparations have been disrupted by the ongoing Ebola epidemic. The national team has canceled its planned training camp and farewell event in Kinshasa, opting instead to prepare in Europe due to the risk of infection.

Under new plans, the team must complete a 21-day isolation period before traveling to the United States for the tournament. This measure is a response to U.S. entry restrictions for individuals who have recently been in the Democratic Republic of Congo or neighboring countries.

The team is scheduled to arrive in Houston on June 11, with their opening match against Portugal on June 17. Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House's World Cup task force, emphasized the strictness of the quarantine rules, stating that violating the isolation bubble could prevent the team from entering the U.S.

The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak a serious international public health threat. The Democratic Republic of Congo is grouped with Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan in the World Cup.

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We have made it very clear that they must be in isolation for 21 days before they can come to Houston. Otherwise, there is a danger that they will not be able to travel to the United States.