The Democratic Republic of the Congo's national football squad has arrived in the United States to compete in the FIFA World Cup, following a mandatory 21-day Ebola quarantine that forced the team to spend three weeks in Europe before being permitted entry. The squad flew into the US from Paris on Thursday, having been based in Belgium after US authorities made clear they would face denial of entry unless they completed the quarantine period outside the country.

The DRC — a vast Central African nation of roughly 100 million people — is making its first World Cup appearance since 1974, when it competed under the name Zaire. The team's preparations were significantly disrupted after an Ebola outbreak struck the country last month, forcing the cancellation of a planned home training camp and a warm-up match against Chile in Spain, which was scrapped due to concerns over virus transmission. Despite the upheaval, head coach Sébastien Desabre, a 49-year-old Frenchman, expressed measured optimism. "We adapted to the situation," he said. "We had to focus, as we have had to adapt often. We worked well, we played two tough friendlies, and here we are."

Desabre also framed the tournament in terms of what it means to supporters back home, who are contending with both the Ebola outbreak and ongoing armed conflict in parts of the country. "It has been a while since the people have seen the team at the World Cup," he said. "We already had the honour of qualifying for the finals. Now, it is up to us to put up a good showing in this tournament."

The squad will be based in Houston, Texas, for the competition. They open Group K play on June 17 against Portugal, before travelling to Guadalajara, Mexico, to face Colombia on June 23, and then returning to the US for a match against Uzbekistan in Atlanta on June 28. The group presents a formidable challenge, but the team's ability to navigate weeks of logistical and medical disruption may itself prove a source of resilience as the tournament begins.