The country are currently not allowed to enter the United States after a decision from the White House taskforce.World Cup participants DR Congo have been banned from entering the United States for a period of 21 days as they have been instructed to serve a period of isolation.
DR Congo are preparing for their second World Cup appearance and a first since 1974 after qualifying through the inter-confederation play-offs and defeating Jamaica in the final.
But their preparations have been anything but plain-sailing as the country has been plagued by a new outbreak of Ebola in the form of the Bundibugyo strain, with 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths in the DR Congo.training and isolating in Belgium, with Andrew Giuliani, executive director for the White House’s World Cup task force, issuing a comment on the situation to ESPN.
He stated: “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 11. 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.”
DR Congo respond to White House demand
DR Congo play Denmark on 3 June in their first friendly, before their final warm-up against Chile on 9 June. After their opener against Portugal on June 17, they take on Colombia and Uzbekistan in Group K.
As reported by Al Jazeera, DR Congo chiefs have no plan to alter their schedule – with a spokesperson for the team saying, “We have kept our training programme. No player in the squad has come from DR Congo”.
DR Congo’s squad, which also includes Real Betis striker Cedric Bakambu and ex West Ham defender Arthur Masuaku, is primarily based in Europe – with no players coming from their home country.
Manager Sebastien Desabre, hailing from France, is also based in Europe and it is only a small number of team officials who came to Belgium from DR Congo.
‘Secret’ England player joining World Cup squad is revealed after Thomas Tuchel remained tight-lipped
Thomas Tuchel said he could not name the player in his press conference but word has got out.
The England player joining the squad for World Cup preparations who Thomas Tuchel said he could not name, has been revealed.
Tuchel announced his 26-man squad on Friday, making some big calls by leaving out Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Harry Maguire and bringing both Jordan Henderson and Ivan Toney back into the fold.
Djed Spence’s selection ahead of Lewis Hall also caused a stir, as did the exclusion of Nottingham Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White.
The German spoke at length about the tough decisions he was forced into making ahead of his international tournament, which kicks off against Croatia on 17 June in Arlington, Texas.
Before then, England will jet out to south Florida for a preparation camp before they play friendlies against New Zealand and Costa Rica. In his press conference, Tuchel confirmed that three uncapped players will be part of the group – with Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, Liverpool’s Rio Ngumoha and Fulham’s Josh King all accepting the opportunity.
Tuchel also said that a fourth player would be present but did not name him.
READ MORE: Harry Kane intervened and made sure Thomas Tuchel picked one player for England squad
Tuchel stated: “Alex Scott. Rio Ngumoha. Josh King. And there will be one more player we cannot name because it’s not confirmed yet.
“But I’m happy these guys are with us, especially Alex who was on the list of 55 and had a disappointing phone call that he didn’t make the first cut.
“But the reaction of him was outstanding, the wish to be in pre-camp and close to the team, it wasn’t even a question for him.
“I’m glad he’s with us because it was a close call and he has a chance to get a first camp.”
Nwaneri is heading to the US to join England’s preparation camp. Image: Getty
It has now been verified by the Daily Mail that the fourth player is Ethan Nwaneri, who spent the second half of the 2025/26 campaign on loan at Marseille from Arsenal.
Nwaneri, previously the youngest player to play in the Premier League until Max Dowman burst onto the scene, qualified for a Premier League winners’ medal after playing six times for Arsenal.
He headed to Marseille in the hope of regular game-time and scored 13 minutes into his debut. However, he made just three starts in Marseille’s final 16 games as they finished fifth in Ligue One.
Nwaneri is eligible to play for both Nigeria and France through his parents but has played for England at various youth levels and was a key part of the side which won the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
Any injuries or issues for players in the 26-man squad could open up a spot for the aforementioned four players, with Scott seemingly best-placed after a superb season for Bournemouth saw him make the initial 55-man squad.
Arsenal players involved in the Champions League final are being afforded extra time off, with Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson also joining up later due to the Conference League final on Wednesday.
Ethan Nwaneri could leave Arsenal after England role
The 19-year-old signed a long-term contract with Arsenal after an incredible breakthrough season at the Emirates Stadium. But Nwaneri may have to move on from the Premier League champions in order to play regularly and Sky Germany say that Borussia Dortmund are keeping tabs on the attacking midfielder.
Dortmund have a long-standing interest in Nwaneri, with the club developing a reputation for taking English talents who were struggling for gametime elsewhere.
Nwaneri has been with Arsenal since the age of eight and was playing for the Under 18’s by the time he was 14.
He is said to be open to a move away, though a high transfer would be demanded by Arsenal.
Featured Image Credit: Getty
‘We approached him’ – Roberto Martinez reveals Premier League star refused Portugal call-up ahead of World Cup
Roberto Martinez has revealed that the proposal to the player was unsuccessful.
Roberto Martinez has revealed an unsuccessful approach to convince a Premier League star to play for Portugal ahead of the World Cup.
Martinez’s Portugal 26-man squad was officially announced on Sunday, with plenty of representation from England’s top flight as Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot, Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva all join captain Cristiano Ronaldo on the plane.
Paris Saint-Germain pair Joao Neves and Vitinha are also in, while West Ham midfielder Matheus Fernandes has not made the cut.
But another talking point coming out of the squad announcement was the revelation from Martinez that Portugal approached Bournemouth forward Junior Kroupi to come and play for them.
The 19-year-old has been in sensational form for the Cherries in their European push, scoring a joint-record 12 goals in the Premier League as a teenager.
He is eligible to play for Portugal through his mother’s side of the family but was born in France and has a father, Eli, who played for the Ivory Coast.
Junior Kroupi has been in fine form for Bournemouth. Image: Getty
According to Martinez, Kroupi decided to turn down their advances as he has committed to playing for birth country France, where he has featured for the Under 21’s.
“Before the March training camp, we approached him,” Martinez explained.
“But one thing is accompanying players who can wear the Portugal shirt, another is the player’s willingness. And in this case, Junior wanted to represent France, so we respect that.”
France’s squad has already been announced last week and Kroupi was not in the group of 26 players selected by Didier Deschamps.
He picked a stacked forward line which included the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Bradley Barcola, Michael Olise and Jean-Phillipe Mateta.
Under a new manager, however, Kroupi could well get the nod in the future for France after the World Cup.
Portugal, meanwhile have been drawn in Group K for the showpiece, with games against DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia in the 48-team showpiece.
Another surprise in their squad was the omission of Tottenham Hotspur’s Joao Palhinha, who has featured 37 times for the national team but will play no part at the World Cup.
Joao Felix, Pedro Neto and Rafael Leao have all been included for the tournament.
