Congolese squad faces 21-day isolation for U.S. World Cup entry
The United States has directed the Congolese national soccer team to complete a 21-day isolation period before it can enter the country for the World Cup. The requirement applies to the squad currently training in Belgium ahead of two scheduled warmup matches. Health officials at U.S. airports are conducting enhanced Ebola screenings for travelers arriving from Congo, Uganda and South Sudan.
Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, stated the team must maintain the integrity of its isolation bubble to reach Houston on June 11. He noted that any breach could prevent the squad from traveling to the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is also monitoring two American doctors who were placed in quarantine in Europe after Ebola exposure.
In Congo last week, authorities confirmed an outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which has produced more than 130 deaths among nearly 600 suspected cases. The CDC has announced that all foreign nationals who have been in Congo, Uganda or South Sudan within the past three weeks will be barred from U.S. entry for 30 days.
Congo canceled a planned farewell event and a three-day training camp. The team is drawn in Group K and will open against Portugal in Houston on June 17, followed by matches against Colombia in Guadalajara on June 23 and Uzbekistan in Atlanta on June 27.
