Ebola Fears Force DR Congo’s World Cup Warm-Up Against Chile Behind Closed Doors in France

Rather than scrap the fixture entirely, organizers scrambled to find an alternative. The solution landed in Orléans, France. The match will still take place on June 9, as originally planned, but it will be played behind closed doors with no spectators allowed . The decision was made as a precautionary measure amid rising international concern over the Ebola situation in eastern DRC .

The Outbreak: A Rare and Dangerous Strain

What makes this outbreak especially concerning is its cause: the Bundibugyo virus (BDBV), a rare species of Ebola for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment . Unlike the more common Zaire ebolavirus, Bundibugyo has no ready-made medical countermeasure, complicating containment efforts .

The outbreak was first confirmed on May 15, 2026, in Ituri Province in northeastern DRC . It has since spread to North Kivu Province and crossed the border into Uganda, including a case that reached the capital city of Kampala . By late May, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 906 suspected cases and 223 suspected deaths in DRC alone, with additional confirmed cases in Uganda .

On May 17, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus determined that the outbreak constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) — the agency’s highest-level alarm . The Africa CDC followed with its own declaration of a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security the next day .

U.S. Travel Restrictions and the 21-Day Window

The outbreak triggered swift border measures from the United States, which is co-hosting the World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico. On May 18, the CDC issued an order under Title 42 suspending entry for foreign nationals who had been physically present in DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within the previous 21 days .

U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents were initially allowed to enter but faced enhanced screening and were advised to self-monitor for symptoms for 21 days . On May 22, the restrictions were tightened to include green card holders who had been in the affected countries .

For the DR Congo squad — composed of players who would need to travel from various club bases to join the national team — these rules posed a direct obstacle. The solution came in the form of a special U.S. entry waiver. The team was granted permission to enter the country for the World Cup after proving they had been outside the affected countries for at least 21 symptom-free days — a requirement they met by establishing their camp in Liège, Belgium .

A Training Camp Uprooted

Long before the Spain cancellation, the outbreak had already forced the team to abandon plans for a traditional send-off. In mid-May, DR Congo canceled a three-day training camp in Kinshasa and a planned farewell event with fans . The risk of holding large gatherings at home, combined with the looming U.S. entry requirements, pushed the entire pre-tournament operation abroad.

The team relocated to Belgium, where they played a friendly against Denmark in Liège on June 3 . That match went ahead as planned, but the Chile fixture required a more complicated salvage operation after the Spanish mayor’s intervention.

The Bigger Picture: A Historic World Cup Return

Amid the logistical chaos, it is easy to lose sight of what is at stake for the Leopards. DR Congo is making its first World Cup appearance since 1974, when the nation competed as Zaire . Their only previous tournament ended with three losses and a 0–14 goal difference, but simply qualifying for the expanded 48-team 2026 edition is a landmark achievement.

They open Group K against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal on June 17 at NRG Stadium in Houston (1:00 p.m. ET) . Six days later they face Colombia in Guadalajara, then close the group stage against Uzbekistan on June 28 in Atlanta . The squad, led by coach Sébastien Desabre, sealed qualification with a dramatic 1–0 playoff win over Jamaica on March 31 — the very last spot in the 48-team field .

Now, with their warm-up matches relocated and their preparation camp run from a Belgian base, the team must channel the disruption into focus. The closed-door match in Orléans will be their final test before stepping onto the sport’s biggest stage for the first time in more than half a century.