The Democratic Republic of Congo has asked Fifa to refund World Cup tickets bought by fans who are now unable to travel to the United States because of Ebola-related entry restrictions.
DR Congo’s national team, the Leopards, are set to play at the World Cup for the first time since 1974, but the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Central and East Africa is threatening to keep many supporters away from the tournament.
More than 900 suspected Ebola cases and 223 suspected deaths have been reported across the region, with the vast majority linked to DR Congo. In response, the United States has suspended entry for non-Americans who have recently travelled through DR Congo, Uganda or South Sudan, while visa services in Kinshasa have also been halted.
Fecofa president Veron Mosengo-Omba said the federation had appealed to Fifa to consider refunds for affected supporters, arguing that many fans had spent heavily on tickets and travel plans only to now face exclusion.
DR Congo will open their campaign against Portugal in Houston on 17 June before facing Colombia in Mexico and Uzbekistan in Atlanta. Many Congolese supporters are now expected to shift their travel plans to Mexico, where restrictions are less severe.
Despite the measures affecting fans, the national team itself remains eligible to enter the US, with most players and staff based abroad. Officials from DR Congo have already left the country early to comply with quarantine requirements.
The Ebola outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain, has added fresh challenges to what should have been a historic football celebration for a nation returning to the World Cup after more than five decades.
