DR Congo World Cup warm-up vs Chile moved behind closed doors over Ebola fears in 2026

DR Congo’s final 2026 World Cup warm-up against Chile will be played without spectators due to Ebola concerns in the nation.

Ebola forces match behind closed doors DR Congo’s last World Cup preparation match against Chile will be held with no fans present because of worries about the Ebola outbreak in the country. The game is set for Tuesday at 16:00 BST in Orleans, France. Originally planned for Cadiz in Spain, local authorities blocked the fixture with an official order citing safety as the reason. Hosts for the 2026 World Cup, the United States, have imposed a 21-day quarantine for anyone arriving from DR Congo and showing no symptoms. ## Squad prepares far from home The DR Congo team is wrapping up training in Marbella, Spain, following a 10-day camp in Belgium that included a 0-0 draw with Denmark. None of the players, all based at clubs outside DR Congo, have recently visited the country, though some staff and supporters have arrived from there. Five squad members currently play in England, including Yoane Wissa, who is part of this group. The side is getting ready for their first-ever World Cup appearance since 1974, when they competed as Zaire and finished last in their group after losses to Scotland, Brazil, and Yugoslavia. ## Tournament schedule and base confirmed DR Congo will use Houston as their base during the 2026 World Cup. Their Group K opener on 17 June will be in Houston against Portugal. After that, they travel to Guadalajara, Mexico to face Colombia, then return to the United States to play Uzbekistan in Atlanta. This marks their first World Cup qualification since their 1974 campaign under the name Zaire. ## Outbreak details and health risks The Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo stems from the rare Bundibugyo strain, for which no vaccine exists. The World Health Organisation estimates it could take up to nine months to develop a jab against this specific variant. Officials have cited these health risks as the main reason for moving the Chile friendly behind closed doors and enforcing travel restrictions for the World Cup hosts.