Ebola Outbreak in Congo Raises Questions Ahead of Houston World Cup Match; Houston Methodist Doctor Weighs In
The team may enter under strict screening, while ordinary fans from DR Congo remain covered by the Ebola-related travel ban.
- The United States State Department granted an exemption to the Ebola-related entry ban on May 19, ensuring the Democratic Republic of Congo team can participate in the World Cup.
- Current U.S. policy bans non-Americans who visited the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within the previous 21 days from entering due to the deadly Ebola outbreak.
- Although the team trained in Europe, officials stated that if players were in the DRC, they must follow "the same protocol for testing in isolation that American citizens returning and permanent residents would be."
- A senior State Department official confirmed this limited exemption applies exclusively to the team and does not extend to ordinary fans from the DRC hoping to travel to America.
- The DRC, which qualified for only the second time since 1974 as Zaire, begins its World Cup campaign in Houston against Portugal on June 17, followed by matches in Mexico and Atlanta.
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20 Articles
The United States will ensure that the Democratic Republic of Congo team can travel to the World Cup despite a travel ban on citizens of the country due to the Ebola outbreak, US administration officials said.
More than 130 deaths have been recorded, but the participation of the selection, in principle, is not at risk.
Against the backdrop of the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the US has promised the African country's football team entry to the upcoming World Cup. "We assume that the DRC team can participate in the World Cup," said a high-ranking US State Department employee on Tuesday. The US has imposed an entry ban on non-US citizens who have stayed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) over the past three weeks because…
The DRC football team will be able to participate in the World-2026 in the United States despite the Ebola epidemic that is affecting the country, said an American official. Washington announced a strengthening of health controls at its borders by banning the entry of foreign nationals who have travelled to the DRC recently. - Despite Ebola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo team should be able to participate in the 2026 World Cup (Sports).
Marietta Daily Journal
brazilsun.comDespite Ebola outbreak, DR Congo prepares for World Cup
The Democratic Republic of Congo's soccer team is attempting to navigate through a national Ebola outbreak in its preparations for the World Cup, though the squad still expects to compete in North America this summer.
Many players of the Congolese Elf already train in Europe. Others have to pass health tests due to the Ebola epidemic before entering the USA.
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