US says DRC team must isolate due to Ebola before arriving for World Cup

DR Congo play their first World Cup 2026 game against Portugal on June 17 in Houston, but must isolate first.Due to an Ebola outbreak in ‌their country, members of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s national football team must isolate before ⁠entering the US ⁠for the World Cup.Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, confirmed on Friday ⁠that the Congolese delegation must maintain a bubble where they currently are training in Belgium and isolate for 21 days or risk being denied entry.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4How Guardiola compares with Ferguson and other English managerial greatslist 2 of 4Man Utd appoint Michael Carrick as permanent managerlist 3 of 4Arteta ‘built a fire’ instead of watching Arsenal’s Premier League crowninglist 4 of 4Arsenal’s Arteta claims Premier League to step from Guardiola’s shadowend of listDRC is in ⁠Group K for this year’s World Cup in North America. Its first game is against Portugal on June 17 in Houston, followed by matches against Colombia on June 23 in Guadalajara, Mexico, and against Uzbekistan on June 27 in Atlanta.“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 11,” 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 US. We cannot be any clearer.”All ⁠of DRC’s team members, along with French head coach ⁠Sebastien Desabre, are based outside of the central African country. Most play professionally in Europe, including defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham United) and forward Yoane Wissa (Newcastle United) in England’s Premier League and captain and defender Chancel ⁠Mbemba (Lille) in France’s Ligue 1.Giuliani said the US is not taking any chances when it comes to health and safety ⁠issues surrounding the World Cup.“We want to make ⁠sure that there is nothing that’s going to come in or near our borders here on this,” he said.