Why is the friendly match between DR Congo and Chile being played behind closed doors?

DR Congo will play its final FIFA World Cup warm-up match of 2026 against Chile behind closed doors in Orleans, France on Tuesday after the match was moved from Spain due to concerns over the Ebola outbreak in the Central African country.

The match was initially due to be played in Cadiz before local authorities blocked it as a precaution. The decision came despite DR Congo having camped in Europe, with the side completing preparations in Marbella after a 10-day training period in Belgium, which included a 0-0 draw against Denmark.

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The match offers Sébastien Desabre’s side a final test before they play in the World Cup for the first time since 1974, when the team played under Zaire. DR Congo will be based in Houston during the tournament, starting its Group K campaign against Portugal on June 17, followed by matches against Colombia in Guadalajara and Uzbekistan in Atlanta.

The build-up is complicated by health-related travel requirements, which require players and officials to be outside DR Congo and asymptomatic before entering the United States. The match against Chile will now go ahead, but without spectators.

Published on June 9, 2026