2026 World Cup Key News
(Central News Agency, Houston, 11th - international news compilation) After the Democratic Republic of the Congo national football team was granted entry into the United States, head coach Sebastien Desabre said today that he hopes the team can deliver a 'strong performance' at the World Cup, bringing solace to compatriots suffering from the Ebola epidemic.
According to AFP, Desabre stated that the team, coming from an Ebola-affected region, was today permitted to enter U.S. territory, and he hopes their performance will bring some joy to their struggling fellow citizens.
Due to防疫 policies, U.S. authorities previously insisted that the DR Congo national team complete a 21-day quarantine before entering the country. The entire team has now arrived in the United States from Paris after completing the isolation period.
Desabre said: 'We have adapted to this situation. Because we must frequently adjust, we need to stay focused.'
He added: 'That's exactly what we've done. The players are in good training condition and have played two tough friendly matches. Now that we're here, it's another step forward for the team.'
This marks the first time since 1974 that DR Congo has qualified for the World Cup. Due to a recent Ebola outbreak in the country last month, the team canceled its planned pre-tournament training camp at home and relocated its training base to Belgium.
During the World Cup, DR Congo will be based in Houston and is scheduled to face Portugal in their opening Group K match on June 17.
The team will then travel to Guadalajara, Mexico, to play against Colombia on the 23rd, and finally head to Atlanta to face Uzbekistan on the 28th. (Translation: Li Pei-shan) 1150612
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- Source: CNA (Central News Agency)
- Category: Event