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CDC Bans DRC Team Over Ebola, Enforces 21-Day Bubble

5/23/2026

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Summary

Giuliani Demands Bubble

U.S. officials led by Andrew Giuliani, task force director, demand a 21-day bubble in Belgium for the DRC team.
The squad trains in Liège and flies to Houston on June 11 for a June 17 match versus Portugal.
The CDC bans entry to anyone who visited the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan, citing the Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC—a WHO emergency—with about 750 suspected cases, 177 suspected deaths and 130 confirmed deaths.

Summary

WHO Declares Emergency

WHO raised the risk of national spread of the Bundibugyo Ebola strain to “very high”.
WHO declared the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring Uganda an emergency of international concern.
The agency reported 82 confirmed cases and seven confirmed deaths linked to the rare strain.
Health officials warned that the lack of approved vaccines or treatments heightens the threat to local populations and international travelers.

Summary

Congo Preps

Mexico’s Health Minister issued an alert for the match in Zapopan, imposing a 21-day quarantine on African players and banning Congolese fans.
Congo qualified for the 2026 World Cup after winning the inter-confederation playoff in Mexico last March, and will establish its training base in Houston on June 11.
Coach Sébastien Desabre will direct from France while the squad trains in Belgium and faces Chile in a friendly on June 9 in Spain.

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Giuliani Demands Bubble

U.S. officials led by Andrew Giuliani, task force director, demand a 21-day bubble in Belgium for the DRC team.
The squad trains in Liège and flies to Houston on June 11 for a June 17 match versus Portugal.
The CDC bans entry to anyone who visited the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan, citing the Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC—a WHO emergency—with about 750 suspected cases, 177 suspected deaths and 130 confirmed deaths.

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