DR Congo arrive in the US for the World Cup after Ebola quarantine

play Live Sign upShow navigation menu.css-15ru6p1{font-size:inherit;font-weight:normal;}Navigation menuNewsShow more news sectionsAfricaAsiaUS & CanadaLatin AmericaEuropeAsia PacificMiddle EastExplainedOpinionWorld CupVideoMoreShow more sectionsFeaturesEconomySportHuman RightsClimate CrisisInvestigationsInteractivesIn PicturesScience & TechnologyPodcastsTravelplay Live Click here to searchsearchSign upNavigation menucaret-leftWorld Cup 2026What to knowGroup standingsMatch scheduleWho are Julian Quinones. Raul Jimenez?caret-rightSport|World Cup 2026DR Congo arrive in the US for the World Cup after Ebola quarantineDRC squad arrived on a flight from Paris after US authorities insisted they serve a 21-day quarantine period elsewhere. xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogleAdd Al Jazeera on GoogleinfoDR Congo's Matthieu Epolo arrives at the team hotel in Houston ahead for the World Cup [Maria Lysaker/Reuters]By Al Jazeera Staff and AFPPublished On 12 Jun 202612 Jun 2026The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) squad have finally arrived in the United States for the World Cup, after they were forced to spend three weeks isolating in Europe due to an Ebola outbreak in their home country. The squad arrived on a flight from Paris on Thursday after US authorities insisted they serve the quarantine period in Belgium or risk being denied entry for the tournament. Head coach Sebastien Desabre said he hoped his team would put up a “good showing” and bring some pleasure to their beleaguered compatriots who are dealing with an outbreak of the virus. “It has been a while since the people have seen the team at the World Cup,” said the Frenchman. “We already had the honour of qualifying for the finals. Now, it is up to us to put up a good showing in this tournament.” DRC – who have qualified for their first World Cup since they featured in the 1974 edition as Zaire – cancelled a planned pre-World Cup training camp at home after the country was hit by the Ebola outbreak last month and were based in Belgium instead. The team’s World Cup preparations were further thrown into chaos when a planned warm-up match against Chile in Spain was cancelled due to fears over the spread of the virus. “We adapted to the situation,” said Desabre. “We had to focus, as we have had to adapt often. “That is what we did. We worked well, we played two tough friendlies, and here we are. Now, it is another step for us.” They are to be based in Houston during the competition, where they will play their first Group K match on June 17 against Portugal. DRC are then scheduled to head to Guadalajara in Mexico to face Colombia on June 23 before playing Uzbekistan in Atlanta on June 28. Advertisement AboutAboutShow moreAbout UsCode of EthicsTerms and ConditionsEU/EEA Regulatory NoticePrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyCookie PreferencesAccessibility StatementSitemapWork for usConnectConnectShow moreContact UsUser Accounts HelpAdvertise with usStay ConnectedNewslettersChannel FinderTV SchedulePodcastsSubmit a TipPaid Partner ContentOur ChannelsOur ChannelsShow moreAl Jazeera ArabicAl Jazeera EnglishAl Jazeera Investigative UnitAl Jazeera MubasherAl Jazeera DocumentaryAl Jazeera BalkansAJ+Our NetworkOur NetworkShow moreAl Jazeera Centre for StudiesAl Jazeera Media InstituteLearn ArabicAl Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human RightsAl Jazeera ForumAl Jazeera Hotel PartnersFollow Al Jazeera English: