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The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has asked the global football governing body, Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), to reimburse its fans for 2026 World Cup tickets following travel restrictions linked to the Ebola outbreak.
DR Congo’s national football team, the Leopards, qualified for the 2026 World Cup for the first time since 1974, but their historic qualification is now under threat due to travel restrictions and a worsening public health crisis in Central and East Africa.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 16, 2026. Following the declaration, the United States suspended entry to anyone who had been in the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within the previous 21 days.
DR Congo health authorities report more than 900 suspected Ebola cases and over 20 deaths since the outbreak began. The US Embassy in Kinshasa has also suspended visa services, further complicating travel for Congolese fans hoping to attend the tournament.
“We have asked FIFA to take this situation into consideration, as tickets are very expensive,” said Veron Mosengo-Omba, president of the Congolese Football Federation (FECOFA).
“Our fans are being punished when all they want is to support their team. We don’t want them to lose all their money.”
According to AFP, some 2026 World Cup tickets are priced up to seven times higher than those for the 2022 tournament in Qatar, due to FIFA’s dynamic pricing system.
DR Congo’s Leopards are scheduled to face Portugal on June 17 in Houston. However, under the current US Ebola travel restrictions, Congolese fans would need to leave the country several weeks in advance to comply with entry rules.
The situation is forcing many DR Congo supporters to consider attending only the team’s match against Colombia in Guadalajara, Mexico.
