La Linea cancels DR Congo vs Chile friendly due to Ebola risks in 2026

A friendly match between Democratic Republic of Congo and Chile scheduled for June 9 was called off over Ebola health concerns in DR Congo.

Mayor blocks match on health grounds The international friendly between Democratic Republic of Congo and Chile, originally set for June 9 in La Linea de la Concepcion, Spain, has been scrapped after local officials cited Ebola outbreak risks in the African nation. Mayor Juan Franco issued a decree enforcing the cancellation, calling it a preventive action following guidance from Andalusia’s regional health authority and the town’s medical team. A health service report from the mayor’s office stated hosting the game posed unacceptable health dangers. La Linea, a coastal city of roughly 65,000 near the Gibraltar border, was slated to serve as a warm-up venue for both sides ahead of the World Cup. ## DR Congo training relocated due to outbreak Democratic Republic of Congo’s squad, currently training in Belgium, had already abandoned a planned pre-tournament camp in Kinshasa because of an Ebola crisis in the eastern region. While none of the DR Congo players—who all compete for clubs outside the country—have recently visited DR Congo, some staff members and supporters have arrived from there. The team is scheduled to face Denmark in a friendly match in Liege on Wednesday before preparing for their World Cup campaign. ## Global travel restrictions escalate over virus A United States public health agency has barred entry for non-American travelers who visited DR Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within the past 21 days due to the Ebola threat. The outbreak in eastern DR Congo stems from the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which no vaccine exists. The World Health Organization estimates it may take up to nine months to develop and approve a vaccine against this specific strain. ## World Cup preparations and schedule confirmed Democratic Republic of Congo secured their first World Cup qualification since 1974 and will base their tournament operations in Houston. Their Group K opener is set for June 17 against Portugal in Houston, followed by a match in Guadalajara, Mexico against Colombia, and a concluding group game in Atlanta against Uzbekistan. The squad’s travel itinerary remains unchanged despite the friendly cancellation in Spain.