The national team of the Democratic Republic of Congo must isolate for 21 days in connection with an Ebola outbreak in the country in order to be permitted into the United States and play at the World Cup there.
Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House World Cup Task Force, told broadcasters ESPN on Friday that the team must be in a bubble in Belgium, where it is training and is scheduled to play one of their two final tune-up games.
"We've been very clear to Congo that they should maintain the integrity of their bubble for 21 days before they can then come to Houston on June 11th," Giuliani said.
"We've made it very clear to the Congo government as well, that they need to maintain that bubble or they risk not being able to travel to the United States. We cannot be any clearer."
"We want to make sure that there is nothing that's going to come in or near our borders here on this."
The World Health Organization has rated the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. Around 180 people have died and there are more than 700 suspected cases.
As a result, the national team has cancelled a planned three-day training camp and farewell event for fans in Kinshasa.
The team will train in Belgium and plans a warm-up match there for June 3 against Denmark. The other game on June 9 against Chile is to take place in southern Spain.
Football officials in the country said that there should not be much fear about Congolese players being infected because all of them are based overseas, mostly in France. Their French coach Sebastien Desabre is also currently in his home country.
ESPN said that some team staff have left Kinshasa and Giuliani said they must isolate in a second bubble.
The Leopards qualified for the World Cup after winning a play-off tournament in Mexico in March and will play in Goup K against Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan.
Congo has not played at a World Cup since 1974, then as Zaire.
