FECOFA Confirms FIFA Talks Over Ebola Outbreak as DR Congo Pushes Ahead With 2026 World Cup Preparations

The Football Association of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FECOFA) officially announced that it held a special meeting with FIFA on May 23 regarding the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.



In its statement, FECOFA provided FIFA with a detailed update on the latest developments of the epidemic and made the following key points:
1. All necessary health and safety measures have been implemented to protect the national team players, coaching staff, and Congolese supporters traveling to the matches;
2. Most members of the national team currently play in European leagues, which significantly lowers the risk of infection;
3. The national team’s planned pre-tournament training camp in the capital, Kinshasa, has been canceled in compliance with new entry requirements introduced by U.S. health authorities.
In addition, FECOFA also discussed with FIFA the difficulties faced by Congolese fans who had already purchased tickets but encountered problems when applying for U.S. visas. FIFA stated that it would review and follow up on the matter.

At present, FECOFA is making every effort to ensure that the Democratic Republic of Congo national team, nicknamed “The Leopards,” can continue its preparations smoothly and participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup without disruption.