US to let DR Congo football team in for World Cup despite Ebola restrictions

The United States has taken steps to permit the Democratic Republic of the Congo's (DRC) football team entry to compete in the World Cup, providing an exemption to its current Ebola-related entry ban, as stated by a senior official from the Department of State.

"We expect the DRC team to be able to attend the World Cup," the official mentioned, requesting anonymity.

Due to an ongoing Ebola outbreak, the US has instituted a ban on non-American individuals who have traveled to the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within the last 21 days from entering the country.

The official clarified that the DRC team, being the sole team from these three countries to qualify for this prestigious tournament, had been training in Europe. Therefore, they may not have been impacted by the restrictions in the first place.

However, if the team had returned to the DRC in the past 21 days, they would have been required to undergo the same stringent screening processes that are mandated for US citizens re-entering the country.

"We're working to implement the same testing and isolation protocols for them that American citizens returning and permanent residents are subject to," the official added.

It is important to note that this exemption will not extend to regular fans from the DRC wishing to travel to support their team.

The DRC will commence its World Cup journey in Texas with a match against Portugal on June 17.