The Democratic Republic of Congo’s build-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been hit by fresh turmoil after health concerns linked to the country’s Ebola outbreak forced the cancellation of a scheduled friendly against Chile in Spain.
Local authorities in La Línea de la Concepción, where the match was due to be played on June 9, announced that the fixture would not go ahead following recommendations from regional health officials. The decision was described as a precautionary measure despite the fact that the Congolese squad is made up almost entirely of players based abroad.
The cancellation represents the latest obstacle for the Leopards, whose World Cup preparations have already been affected by the outbreak. Earlier plans to hold a pre-tournament training camp in Kinshasa were abandoned, with the team relocating its preparations to Belgium to avoid potential travel and logistical complications.
Officials in Spain cited concerns surrounding the movement of some staff members and supporters travelling from DR Congo, even though no players were reported to have recently visited the country. Authorities insisted public safety remained the overriding priority.
The Congolese Football Federation expressed disappointment at the decision and has reportedly explored alternative solutions, including relocating the match. Federation officials maintain that all health and regulatory requirements had been met and stressed that the squad poses no direct health risk.
The outbreak has also attracted international attention beyond football. Several countries have tightened health protocols and travel measures, while the United States recently introduced temporary restrictions affecting travellers who have recently visited DR Congo and neighbouring regions impacted by the outbreak.
For coach Sébastien Desabre, the cancellation removes an important opportunity to fine-tune his squad ahead of the biggest tournament in the nation’s modern football history. DR Congo are preparing for their first FIFA World Cup appearance in more than five decades after securing qualification for the expanded 48-team tournament.
Despite losing the Chile fixture, the Leopards are expected to continue preparations in Belgium and remain scheduled to face Denmark in a final warm-up match before travelling to North America.
DR Congo will begin their World Cup campaign against Portugal on June 17 before facing Colombia and Uzbekistan in Group K, with the team hoping to ensure that headlines shift from health concerns back to football once the tournament gets underway.
The cancellation serves as a stark reminder that even on the eve of the world’s biggest sporting event, global health challenges can still have a direct impact on the game. For DR Congo, the road to the World Cup has become significantly more complicated, but their focus remains firmly on making history on football’s grandest stage.