The Democratic Republic of Congo will play their final World Cup preparation match behind closed doors amid Ebola outbreak concerns in their home country. While none of the squad members have recently returned to DR Congo, some support staff and fans have traveled from affected regions, prompting health precautions ahead of their Group K opener against Portugal on June 17.

DR Congo's team, based in Marbella after a training camp in Belgium, is preparing for their first World Cup appearance since 1974 when they competed as Zaire. Their preparations included a scoreless draw with Denmark, and they will face Colombia in Guadalajara before taking on Uzbekistan in Atlanta as part of their Group K campaign.

The Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo involves the rare Bundibugyo species, which currently lacks an approved vaccine. The World Health Organisation has indicated that developing a jab could take up to nine months, creating uncertainty around the region's ability to host international sporting events safely.

This precautionary measure reflects broader concerns about international sports events in regions affected by infectious disease outbreaks, potentially impacting future hosting decisions and team preparations throughout the tournament.