Dr congo cleared for world cup amid ebola fears

The United States will grant entry to the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) national soccer team for the upcoming World Cup, despite ongoing Ebola restrictions, a senior U.S. State Department official confirmed.

Special arrangements expected for leopards squad

The team, nicknamed the 'Leopards', has been training in Europe and is likely exempt from a 21-day quarantine for non-U.S. citizens who have recently visited the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan due to the Ebola outbreak.

If any players did recently travel to the DRC, they would face stringent health checks, similar to those for U.S. citizens and permanent residents returning from high-risk areas.

A State Department spokesperson emphasized that there will be no special exceptions for DRC fans hoping to attend the tournament.

The Leopards are making their second World Cup appearance since 1974. They will be based in Houston where they will face Portugal in their opening group match on June 17 before traveling to Guadalajara, Mexico to take on Colombia and concluding their group stage in Atlanta against Uzbekistan on June 28.