Giuliani: Congo Must…

Congo’s national soccer team is required to undergo a 21-day isolation or risk being denied entry into the U.S. for the World Cup due to an Ebola outbreak, as stated by Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, in an interview with ESPN.

Giuliani noted that the U.S. government has alerted FIFA, the Congolese national team, and the Congolese government that the team must uphold a strict bubble while training in Belgium, where they are currently preparing and scheduled to play two exhibition matches.

“We’ve been very clear with Congo that maintaining the integrity of their bubble is essential for 21 days before traveling to Houston on June 11th,” he explained. “We communicated this to the Congolese government to emphasize the importance of maintaining this bubble to avoid travel issues to the United States.”

Giuliani further emphasized the United States’ commitment to the health and safety of those involved in the World Cup.

“We want to ensure that nothing poses a risk to our borders regarding this situation,” he added.

All players from the Congo team, including their French head coach, Sébastien Desabre, are currently situated outside their home country, with many playing in France. Additionally, some team staff from Congo departed the country earlier this week.

Giuliani warned that if other individuals come into contact with the team, they must maintain a separate bubble. “If any of these individuals exhibit symptoms, the entire team’s ability to participate in the World Cup could be jeopardized,” he said.

Furthermore, he mentioned that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has personnel in Europe monitoring two American doctors in quarantine after potential exposure to Ebola, and they are considering sending staff to Belgium to “check in on the team.”

Last week, Congo reported an outbreak of a rare Ebola variant known as Bundibugyo, which has claimed over 130 lives and led to nearly 600 suspected cases.

– USMNT’s Chris Richards sustains ankle ligament injury before World Cup
USMNT’s 2026 World Cup roster big board 7.0: Who will be part of Pochettino’s squad?
2026 World Cup: Announced squads and players so far

The World Health Organization has labeled it a public health emergency of international concern. This week, the CDC announced a 30-day ban on entry for all foreign nationals who have visited Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan in the past three weeks.

On Wednesday, Congo canceled a scheduled three-day training camp for World Cup preparation and a farewell event for fans in Kinshasa.

The Congolese team is slated to play warm-up matches against Denmark in Liege, Belgium, on June 3 and Chile in southern Spain on June 9.

The Leopards have been drawn into Group K, commencing their World Cup journey against Portugal in Houston on June 17, followed by a match with Colombia in Guadalajara, Mexico, on June 23, and concluding against Uzbekistan in Atlanta on June 27.

Andrew Giuliani, son of former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, was appointed by President Donald Trump to lead the World Cup task force last May.