The Democratic Republic of Congo’s final preparatory match ahead of the FIFA World Cup will be played behind closed doors following concerns surrounding the Ebola outbreak in the central African nation.
The friendly against Chile is scheduled to take place on Tuesday in the French city of Orleans after plans to stage the game in La Linea de la Concepcion, Spain, were scrapped.
Local authorities in the Spanish municipality blocked the fixture after the mayor signed a decree preventing it from taking place as a precautionary measure amid fears linked to the outbreak.
Despite the restrictions, sources indicate that none of DR Congo’s players have recently travelled to their home country, with all members of the squad currently playing for clubs abroad. However, some support staff and supporters are understood to have travelled from DR Congo.
The Leopards are completing their World Cup preparations in Marbella, Spain, following a 10-day training camp in Belgium that included a goalless draw against Denmark.
DR Congo will make their first World Cup appearance in more than five decades after qualifying for the 2026 tournament. Their only previous participation came in 1974, when they competed as Zaire and exited at the group stage after defeats to Scotland, Brazil and Yugoslavia.
The team is expected to establish its tournament base in Houston, United States, where it will open its Group K campaign against Portugal on June 17. They will then travel to Guadalajara, Mexico, to face Colombia before returning to the United States for their final group match against Uzbekistan in Atlanta.
The Ebola outbreak affecting eastern DR Congo has been linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus. According to health authorities, there is currently no approved vaccine for the strain, while the World Health Organisation has indicated that it could take several months before a vaccine becomes available.
