In brief
Health warnings triggered a cancellation of the DR Congo vs. Chile friendly, disrupting the team’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup while the nation manages an Ebola outbreak with no current vaccine.
DR Congo match in Spain cancelled over Ebola risk
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s scheduled friendly against Chile, set for June 9 in the town of La Linea de la Concepcion, Spain, has been called off by local authorities after concerns about an Ebola outbreak in the African nation were raised.
Health authorities prompt cancellation
Mayor Juan Franco signed a decree preventing the match, citing risk recommendations from the Andalusian health service and the municipality’s medical department.
Broader context of Ebola
The DR Congo outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which no vaccine exists yet. With World Health Organization estimates that a vaccine could take up to nine months to develop, the international community remains cautious. U.S. health officials have barred entry for anyone who has recently been in the DR Congo, Uganda or South Sudan.
Impact on World Cup preparations
The Congo team, after cancelling a pre‑tournament train‑camp in Kinshasa, is based in Belgium as it waits to travel to Houston for the 2026 World Cup opening match against Portugal on June 17. They will later play Colombia in Guadalajara before heading to Atlanta to face Uzbekistan.
With Chile now left without their friendly, both squads remain focused on their upcoming qualifiers, but the health situation underscores the challenges teams face in the lead‑up to the tournament.
