World Cup
Ebola Fears Cast Shadow Over DR Congo’s World Cup Preparations
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s preparations for its first FIFA World Cup appearance in 52 years have been disrupted by fears over Ebola, after Spanish authorities blocked a planned warm-up match against Chile scheduled for next week.
The friendly, which was due to take place in the southern Spanish city of La Línea de la Concepción on June 8, was cancelled after Mayor Juan Franco revoked authorisation for the game, citing concerns about the ongoing Ebola outbreak in DR Congo.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the mayor’s office said the decision was taken because available documentation did not conclusively demonstrate that there was “no risk whatsoever” associated with hosting the Congolese team.
The move came although the Congolese squad has been training in Belgium ahead of the World Cup, and most of its players and staff are based in Europe rather than in DR Congo.
The cancellation has raised concerns that public health fears could overshadow the country’s long-awaited return to football’s biggest stage. DR Congo has qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1974 and is preparing for the expanded 48-team tournament to be hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The Congolese Football Federation, FECOFA, reacted swiftly, insisting that the national team had complied with all health, sporting and regulatory requirements. The federation said discussions were ongoing with local authorities and the Spanish Football Federation to either save the fixture or relocate it to another venue.
National team coach Sébastien Desabre expressed surprise at the decision but remained optimistic that a solution would be found.
“The DR Congo national team respects the decision, which is based on fears of Ebola,” Desabre said. “We speak with FIFA every day about Ebola. Our doctors are constantly in contact with FIFA, and we strictly follow the health protocols.”
He suggested that the match could still be played elsewhere in Spain if an alternative venue becomes available.
The Leopards are scheduled to face Denmark in Liège on Wednesday before finalising their World Cup preparations. They will be based in Houston during the tournament and begin their Group K campaign against Portugal on June 17, before taking on Colombia in Guadalajara and debutants Uzbekistan in Atlanta.
While football officials insist there is no immediate threat from the team, the Spanish decision highlights how concerns over infectious diseases can still affect international sporting events, even when strict health protocols are in place. For DR Congo, the controversy has added an unexpected obstacle to what should be a historic and celebratory build-up to the World Cup
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Global music superstar Shakira will headline the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Mexico City, FIFA announced on Friday, with the Colombian singer set to perform the tournament’s official song, “Dai Dai.”
The opening ceremony will take place at Estadio Azteca on Thursday, 90 minutes before the opening match between Mexico and South Africa.
Shakira will be joined on stage by Nigerian Afrobeats star Burna Boy, one of the featured artists on “Dai Dai,” the official anthem of the tournament. The title is derived from an Italian phrase meaning “let’s go” or “come on,” capturing the spirit and excitement of football’s biggest event.
The star-studded show will also feature performances from fellow Colombian artist J Balvin and South African sensation Tyla, underscoring FIFA’s effort to showcase musical talent from across the globe.
The announcement adds another milestone to Shakira’s long association with the FIFA World Cup. The singer famously performed the 2010 World Cup anthem “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” which became one of the most successful football songs of all time.
FIFA also confirmed that Shakira will feature prominently later in the tournament, having been selected to perform at the first-ever FIFA World Cup final halftime show. The historic event is scheduled to take place at MetLife Stadium, marking a new entertainme26,nt dimension for the world’s biggest sporting event.
The FIFA World Cup 20 jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, will be the largest edition of the tournament, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches. Organisers expect the opening ceremony to set the tone for a month-long celebration of football, music and culture across North America.
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Soccer fans looking to bring the party to World Cup games will have to go without vuvuzelas, with FIFA banning the plastic horns from venues in the U.S., Canada and Mexico in its stadium code of conduct.
Vuvuzelas, a horn made with a long plastic shell, are a staple of South African soccer matches and took the world by storm at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. But they have drawn criticism over their monotonous droning sound, often likened to a swarm of bees
Along with vuvuzelas, whistles, air horns and other excessively loud noise-making devices are prohibited from all 16 World Cup venues, according to FIFA’s stadium code of conduct.
Instruments that emit laser beams, laser pointers or similar emissions are also banned.
The list of prohibited items and behaviours goes on to state that body paint and body tattoos do not constitute clothing. Streaking, flashing or removing clothing to reveal intimate body parts is also prohibited.
FIFA has also banned spectators from bringing reusable water bottles into venues, citing safety concerns.
Attendees who violate the rules can be refused entry or removed from the stadium, the code says.
The expanded 48-team World Cup, hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico, runs from June 11 to July 19. Mexico will open the tournament against South Africa on June 11.
-Reuters
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France brushed aside concerns after suffering a surprise 2-1 defeat by Côte d’Ivoire in a World Cup warm-up match on Thursday, insisting the setback would serve as a useful reminder rather than a cause for alarm ahead of the tournament.
Didier Deschamps’ side led through a superb first-half goal from Rayan Cherki but were overrun after the break as Guela Doue and Amad Diallo turned the game around for the Elephants in Nantes.
With France opening their World Cup campaign against Senegal in New York on June 16, midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni said the result should be viewed in the context of preparations rather than as a warning sign.
“It’s a pity to lose but we’re in a preparation phase; we stay confident,” Tchouameni said.
“There is no conclusion to draw from this game, even if we had won it. We will be ready.”
France fielded an experimental side, with several Paris Saint-Germain players rested after last weekend’s Champions League final triumph, and made numerous changes after halftime.
Defender Lucas Hernandez also played down the significance of the defeat.
“We always want to win, but we’re in a phase of preparation, and there were a lot of substitutions,” Hernandez said.
“We’re in good spirits.”
Deschamps, however, admitted his side had lost control of the contest after an encouraging opening 45 minutes and warned that France would face opponents with similar qualities in the United States.
“A defeat is never pleasant, even if we did some good things in the first half,” Deschamps said.
“In the second half, we made a lot of changes, but that’s no excuse. We were not as good after the break, and they brought a lot of pace.
“We will face the same type of team on June 16.”
The French coach said the result could prove useful if it prevented his players from becoming complacent before the tournament.
“It’s a reminder, if we needed one, not to think we’re better than we are,” he said, with Cherki adding: “It’s a little warning, and I can tell you we’re not going to the World Cup thinking we’re favourites, but we’re going to crush everyone.”
-Reuters
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