The Democratic Republic of the Congo has arrived in Houston for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, completing a tightly controlled journey shaped as much by public health restrictions as by football ambition.
The DR Congo national football team, known as the Leopards, landed in Texas after a 21-day monitored isolation period in Belgium and a connecting flight through Paris, following strict travel protocols linked to an Ebola outbreak in their home country. Their arrival on June 11-12 places them in the United States ahead of their long-awaited return to football’s biggest stage, their first World Cup appearance since 1974, when the nation competed as Zaire.
The journey to North America unfolded under extraordinary conditions. In May 2026, an Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus emerged in eastern DRC, spreading across parts of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu, and prompting the World Health Organization to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. As cases rose, U.S. authorities tightened entry requirements for travelers linked to affected regions.
To comply, the DRC squad was required to remain in a controlled “bubble” in Belgium, where they were already based for pre-tournament preparations. The team canceled a planned camp in Kinshasa and scrapped a friendly against Chile in Spain, reshaping their build-up around safety protocols and limited international friendlies. FIFA and the national federation confirmed full compliance before travel clearance was granted.
