Spanish mayor bans DR Congo‑Chile World Cup friendly

A Spanish mayor has prohibited a World Cup 2026 warm‑up friendly between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chile from being staged on his municipality’s grounds. The decision was taken as the Ebola virus continues to spread in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Democratic Republic of Congo’s national side, known as the Leopards, had prepared health safeguards for the fixture. Chile’s squad was set to travel to Spain for the preparatory match. Despite the precautions, the mayor cited public health concerns as justification for the ban. The prohibition applies to any venue within the mayor’s jurisdiction. The cancellation leaves both national teams to seek an alternative location ahead of the 2026 tournament. The incident highlights the impact of the Ebola outbreak on international football preparations.