The Democratic Republic of Congo national football team has finally arrived in the United States ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 after spending three weeks in quarantine in Europe due to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in their home country.
The Leopards landed in Houston, Texas, on Thursday after complying with health measures imposed by United States authorities, who required the team to complete a 21-day quarantine period outside DR Congo before being granted entry into the country.
The health restrictions disrupted the team’s preparations for the tournament, forcing them to abandon plans for a pre-World Cup training camp at home and instead relocate to Belgium, where they continued training and fulfilled quarantine requirements.
Head coach Sébastien Desabre said the squad had remained focused despite the challenges and was determined to represent the Congolese people with pride on football’s biggest stage.
“We have had to adapt to circumstances throughout this preparation period, but the players remained committed and worked hard. Now our attention turns fully to the competition,” Desabre said after the team’s arrival.
The Congolese side enters the tournament carrying the hopes of a nation battling one of its latest Ebola outbreaks. The team qualified for the World Cup for the first time in more than five decades, having last appeared at the global showpiece in 1974 when the country competed under the name Zaire.
Preparations were further complicated when a scheduled international friendly against Chile in Spain was cancelled amid concerns over the spread of Ebola. Despite the setback, the Leopards managed to arrange alternative preparations in Europe before travelling to the United States.
DR Congo will use Houston as its tournament base and will begin its Group K campaign against Portugal on June 17. The team will then travel to Guadalajara, Mexico, to face Colombia on June 23 before concluding the group stage against Uzbekistan in Atlanta on June 28.
For many Congolese supporters, the team’s participation represents a rare source of national pride during a difficult period marked by public health challenges and security concerns.
As the World Cup gets underway, the Leopards will not only be chasing football success but also seeking to inspire millions of compatriots back home who continue to face the effects of the Ebola outbreak.
