2026 World Cup: Trump task force orders DR Congo into Ebola ‘bubble’ before US trip

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s preparations for this summer’s FIFA World Cup have taken a dramatic turn after the United States ordered the national team to remain in a controlled isolation “bubble” for 21 days before entering the country amid an Ebola outbreak.

The directive was confirmed by Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, who warned that Congo’s squad could be denied entry into the United States if the health protocols are not strictly followed.

The Congolese team are currently training in Belgium after abandoning plans for a pre-World Cup camp in Kinshasa due to concerns surrounding the deadly virus outbreak in the country.

According to reports, the Ebola outbreak has affected eastern DR Congo, where more than 600 suspected cases and 139 deaths have been recorded, prompting heightened international concern ahead of the tournament.

Giuliani revealed that the United States had communicated directly with FIFA, the Congolese Football Federation and government officials regarding the mandatory measures.

“We’ve been very clear to Congo that they should maintain the integrity of their bubble for 21 days before they can then come to Houston on June 11th,” Giuliani told ESPN.

“We’ve made it very clear to the Congo government as well, that they need to maintain that bubble or they risk not being able to travel to the United States. We cannot be any clearer.”

Belgium base becomes key to World Cup hopes

Congo’s temporary training base in Belgium has now become central to the team’s participation plans, with players and staff expected to remain under tightly monitored conditions before travelling to the United States.

The Leopards are also scheduled to play two warmup matches in Europe as part of their World Cup preparations while remaining within the approved isolation environment.

The latest development adds another layer of difficulty to Congo’s tournament build-up, which had already been disrupted by the public health situation back home.

The cancellation of the Kinshasa training camp forced the federation to quickly reorganise logistics and relocate preparations abroad to avoid further uncertainty.

While FIFA has not publicly commented on the restrictions, the governing body is understood to be working alongside health and government authorities to ensure all participating nations meet entry and safety requirements.

The US government’s position reflects growing caution around international travel involving regions affected by infectious disease outbreaks, particularly with the World Cup expected to attract millions of supporters, officials and media personnel.

Health fears overshadow football preparations

The situation has inevitably shifted attention away from football matters and onto health protocols just weeks before the competition begins.

For Congo’s players and technical staff, the challenge now extends beyond tactical preparation and fitness, with strict movement controls and isolation measures forming part of their daily routine.

The country had been looking forward to using the World Cup as an opportunity to showcase its football progress on the global stage, but the Ebola outbreak has instead placed the team under intense international scrutiny.

Despite the complications, Congo remain hopeful of completing the required quarantine conditions and travelling to Houston as scheduled on June 11.