Ebola Concerns Lead to Cancellation of Friendly Match Between DR Congo and Chile

Juan Franco, the mayor of La Línea de la Concepción in Spain, announced the cancellation of the friendly match scheduled between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chile on June 9. This decision was made as a precautionary measure due to concerns over the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Franco stated in a voice message released by his office that he signed a decree prohibiting the match from taking place at the municipal stadium, following recommendations from health authorities within the regional government. Additionally, a report from the head of health in the municipality advised against holding the game due to potential health risks.

The match against Chile was set to be the second friendly for the Congolese team as part of their preparations for the 2026 World Cup.

Earlier, a representative from the Congolese team confirmed that their training camp originally planned in Kinshasa had been canceled and relocated directly to Belgium. Reports also indicated that U.S. authorities have requested that the team enter a health bubble for 21 days to mitigate any Ebola-related risks before participating in the World Cup.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is preparing for a friendly match against Denmark in Liège, Belgium, ahead of the World Cup 2026, which will take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.

The Congolese national team will compete in Group 11 alongside Colombia, Portugal, and Uzbekistan during the tournament.