Spain's La Línea local authority, led by Mayor Juan Franco, cancelled the June 9 friendly between DR Congo and Chile. The 10,000‑seat stadium in the town near Gibraltar was set to host the match, but health officials warned that an Ebola outbreak in the Congo posed unacceptable risks.

The decision follows WHO’s declaration of a public health emergency after 906 suspected cases and 223 deaths linked to Bundibugyo Ebola spread into Uganda. Congo’s preparations suffered when they cut a training camp and fan farewell in Kinshasa, forcing the squad to regroup in Belgium ahead of a June 11 World Cup kickoff.

Chile had requested the game proceed behind closed doors, but Franco’s decree banned the fixture outright. The cancellation cuts a key warm‑up for Congo, who will face Portugal on June 17 in Houston before playing Colombia and Uzbekistan in the U.S. and Mexico.

U.S. authorities insist Congo maintain a 21‑day isolation bubble in Belgium before entering the States; failure to do so could bar the team from Houston. With the tournament looming, the Congo squad must navigate health protocols while preparing for their first World Cup match since 1974.