Italy’s repechage to World Cup, Congo’s ultimatum makes Azzurri dream

Nigeria and Cameroon are hoping for repechage, but the situation is also intertwined with Italy in a still-evolving world scenario toward the 2026 World Cup. At the center of the affair is the Democratic Republic of Congo national team, forced to manage a delicate health protocol related to an Ebola outbreak. According to Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House task force for the World Cup, the team will have to remain in a controlled “bubble” in Belgium for at least 21 days before they can enter the United States, where they are scheduled to play some preparation friendlies.

“We’ve made it clear to Congo that they have to maintain the integrity of their bubble for 21 days before they can arrive in Houston on June 11,” Giuliani explained to ESPN. “If they don’t comply with the protocol, they risk not being able to enter the United States. We can’t be any clearer than that.”

The measure is linked to the confirmation of a new outbreak of Ebola type Bundibugyo, which has already claimed more than 130 lives and caused hundreds of suspected cases, even leading the World Health Organization to declare an international health emergency. U.S. authorities, in coordination with the CDC, have tightened controls and are considering further restrictions on entry from parts of central Africa. For this reason, too, the situation in Congo is likely to have direct repercussions on the world preparation of the team, currently composed largely of players playing in European leagues and led by French technical commissioner Sébastien Desabre.

Giuliani also stressed that any new arrivals or contacts from outside the team could compromise the entire group: “They have to keep a separate bubble. If someone turns out to be symptomatic, the whole participation could be at risk.” Against this backdrop of uncertainty, the subject of possible repechage and yet-to-be-defined qualifiers also arises. Nigeria and Cameroon are closely observing the evolution of the situation, raising hopes of a possible takeover in the case of exclusions or reassignments.

But among the teams monitoring the scenario, according to federal circles, there would also be Italy, committed to keeping its ranking position alive and ready to intervene if regulatory glimmers related to the structure of the tournament or possible readmissions open up.

In the meantime, Congo’s schedule remains confirmed, with friendlies in Belgium and Spain and a World Cup opener set against Portugal on June 17 in Houston, before subsequent challenges against Colombia and Uzbekistan. It is an ever-evolving situation, where public health, international logistics and sports regulations are intertwined, leaving open scenarios yet to be defined ahead of the 2026 World Cup.