Kinshasa, May 24th, 2026 (CPA). – The gathering of the Leopards football team of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), initially planned in Kinshasa, has been relocated to Belgium for May 25th due to the health situation, the Minister in charge of Sports and Recreation has announced on Friday during the 90th Council of Ministers meeting, read on Saturday on the Congolese National Radio and Television. “Originally scheduled for May 25th, 2026, in Kinshasa, the gathering of DRC’s senior men’s Leopards football team has been relocated to Belgium. Consequently, the ceremony for decorating the players is postponed to a later date,” has declared Augustin Kibasa, Minister in charge of the Digital Economy of DRC. “However, regarding the presentation of the national flag, the Minister in charge of Sports and Recreation has requested authorization from the Head of State to receive this national standard from him personally, which he will then officially present to our Leopards on his behalf,” he has clarified. Furthermore, during this meeting, the Minister in charge of Digital Economy has explained that his colleague from Sports and Recreation had informed the assembly of the positive preparations of the Congolese Leopards in anticipation of the final phase of the 2026 FIFA World Cup (FIFA) 2026, scheduled for June 11th to July 19th, 2026, in the United States of America, Canada, and Mexico.
The United States of America Suspends Visa Issuance for Congolese Fans
According to Minister Augustin Kibasa, the United States of America has suspended the issuance of visas to Congolese fans following the Ebola virus outbreak declared in DRC.
He has explained that, as a matter of protocol, following this Ebola virus outbreak, the U.S. Embassy has temporarily suspended the issuance of visas to Congolese nationals. This decision, which comes with several conditions, makes it difficult to grant visas to the many fans determined to accompany and support the Congolese national soccer team. Finally, the Minister in charge of Digital Economy has concluded by specifying that, in light of this challenge, the Ministry in charge of Sports and Recreation is considering arranging for a large number of Congolese fans to travel to DRC’s second major match against Colombia, scheduled for Wednesday, June 24th, at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Agreement Signed to Establish a Congolese Tourism Embassy in Houston
Furthermore, following this meeting, the Minister in charge of the Digital Economy has announced that the government plans to sign a memorandum of understanding with a Congolese private partner living in the United States for the establishment of the headquarters of a tourism, sports, and cultural embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in Houston, in conjunction with the 2026 FIFA World Cup. “A memorandum of understanding has been concluded and signed with a private Congolese partner living in the United States, with a view to securing a strategic location where the headquarters of a temporary mobile tourism, sports, and cultural embassy of DRC will be established in Houston, United States,” has declared Augustin Kibassa, Minister in charge of the Digital Economy and rapporteur of the 90th Council of Ministers. Following this meeting, Augustin Kibassa has explained that the Minister in charge of Tourism has indicated that this initiative will enable Congolese creators to share the richness of the national culture, while allowing investors and entrepreneurs to develop new economic partnerships. While reading the minutes, the Minister in charge of the Digital Economy has informed that his colleague in the Ministry in charge of Tourism has called on public and private institutions to collaborate in order to promote modern, sustainable, and competitive tourism. The rapporteur for this 90th meeting of the Council of Ministers has also affirmed that the Minister in charge of Tourism, as cited in the minutes, has presented to members of the government the progress report on activities related to this temporary mobile embassy of DRC, in conjunction with the 2026 World Cup. In this context, several activities have been organized, notably the establishment of a technical commission comprising experts from the Ministries in charge of Foreign Affairs, Tourism, Sports and Recreation, Culture, Arts and Heritage, Communication and Media, Youth and Patriotic Vigilance, Finance, as well as DRC Embassy in the United States. CPA/