World Cup: Ebola crisis forces DR Congo warm-up vs Chile behind closed doors

The DR Congo’s final 2026 FIFA World Cup warm-up fixture against Chile will take place behind closed doors in the French city of Orléans on Tuesday, as concerns continue over an Ebola outbreak in the Central African nation, a team spokesperson has confirmed.

The match, scheduled for 16:00 BST, was initially planned for Cádiz in Spain but was cancelled after the city’s mayor issued a decree preventing it from being staged, citing public health concerns linked to the outbreak.

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DR Congo’s squad are currently finalising preparations in Marbella, Spain, following a 10-day training camp in Belgium that included a goalless draw against Denmark.

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Health Restrictions Shape World Cup Build-Up

The disruption comes amid strict health-related entry requirements imposed ahead of the World Cup in the United States, where teams and officials are required to have been outside DR Congo for at least 21 days and show no symptoms before entry is permitted.

While DR Congo players are based abroad and have not recently travelled to the country, some members of staff and supporters are believed to have recently visited.

Ebola Outbreak Raises Global Concern

The current outbreak in eastern DR Congo has been linked to a rare strain of Ebola known as Bundibugyo. Health authorities say confirmed cases have risen to 488, with at least 86 deaths recorded as of Saturday.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that there is currently no approved vaccine for this strain, with development potentially taking up to nine months.

Historic World Cup Return

DR Congo will feature at a FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1974, when they competed as Zaire and exited the tournament at the group stage.

The team has been drawn in Group K, where they are scheduled to face Portugal in Houston on June 17 before meeting Colombia in Guadalajara and Uzbekistan in Atlanta.

They are expected to base their World Cup camp in Houston throughout the tournament.

Preparations Continue Under Restrictions

Despite the disruptions, DR Congo’s preparations continue as the squad looks to complete their build-up under unusual and tightly controlled conditions ahead of their long-awaited return to the world stage.