The Democratic Republic of Congo's World Cup squad have been placed under strict isolation conditions, with US authorities requiring the players to remain in a sealed bubble for 21 days before they are permitted to enter the United States.

The squad are currently training in Belgium after their originally scheduled camp in Kinshasa was called off. Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, confirmed the isolation requirement and issued a firm warning to the squad.

"They need to maintain that bubble or they risk not being able to travel to the United States. We cannot be any clearer," Giuliani told ESPN.

The restriction stems from a ban imposed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which prohibits entry to non-American nationals who have been in DR Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan in the 21 days before travelling to the US. Because all of DR Congo's players are based outside the country, none of them are directly affected by the travel ban — provided the Kinshasa camp remains cancelled.

Entire squad at risk if bubble is broken

Giuliani stressed that the isolation conditions extend beyond the playing squad. Any additional personnel travelling alongside the team must maintain a separate bubble from the players, or risk jeopardising the entire delegation's participation.

"If they end up coming, and any of those people end up symptomatic, they are risking the entire team being able to come and compete in this World Cup," he said.

The seriousness of the situation intensified on Friday when the World Health Organization raised the public health risk rating of the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo from "high" to "very high." WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the risk across the wider African region was classified as "high," while the global risk remained "low."

Busy preparation schedule ahead

Despite the uncertainty surrounding their travel arrangements, DR Congo have a pair of international friendlies lined up as part of their World Cup preparations. They face Denmark on 3 June in Belgium, then travel to Spain to meet Chile on 9 June.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on 11 June and runs through to 19 July. DR Congo open their campaign against Portugal on 17 June — a monumental test for the African side as they look to make their mark on the global stage.