Story perspectives

DRC Star Denied Visa, Misses Matches Amid Ebola Outbreak

6/28/2026

Summary

Michel Kuka Visa Denial

Michel Kuka Mboladinga was denied a U.S. visa and missed the Uzbekistan match.
He also missed the opening game against Portugal because Ebola travel restrictions blocked his entry.
The World Health Organization reported 1,203 Bundibugyo Ebola cases and 321 deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Ambassador Yvette Ngandu hopes he will receive a visa if the Democratic Republic of Congo reaches the knockout stage.

Summary

Football President Appeals

The Congolese football president asked FIFA to reimburse supporters blocked by Ebola travel bans.
U.S. privacy laws stop the State Department from revealing why visas, including Mboladinga’s, were denied.
A former USAID worker warned the outbreak could exceed the 2014 crisis that killed 11,000.
Fans from Brazil, Colombia and other nations voiced support for the absent supporter.
A Cup reporter apologized for inappropriate Bosnia remarks before the United States match.

Summary

Michel Kuka Ambassador

The DR Congo football federation appointed Michel Kuka Mboladinga as an ambassador to promote the team at the World Cup.
Mboladinga, a superfan with over 255,000 Instagram followers, posted a statue-pose photo wishing the squad good luck.
He continuously updates supporters on his visa status and sends well-wishes to the team.
Media outlets cite his heightened visibility as a rallying point for diaspora fans despite his inability to travel.

History

Historical Context

After the WHO declared a Public Health Emergency on 8 August 2014 and the UN Security Council labeled the West African Ebola crisis a threat to peace, the U.S. imposed travel bans that halted aid and movement. The 2024 Ebola flare-up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has revived visa denials, prompting FIFA and the Congolese federation to demand compensation; the 2014 outbreak killed about 11,000 people.

1 of 4

Michel Kuka Visa Denial

Michel Kuka Mboladinga was denied a U.S. visa and missed the Uzbekistan match.
He also missed the opening game against Portugal because Ebola travel restrictions blocked his entry.
The World Health Organization reported 1,203 Bundibugyo Ebola cases and 321 deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Ambassador Yvette Ngandu hopes he will receive a visa if the Democratic Republic of Congo reaches the knockout stage.

1 / 4