BBC Sport understands that none of DR Congo’s players – who all play for clubs outside of the country – have visited their homeland recently, but some support staff and fans have travelled from there.

The squad are finalising their preparations in Marbella in Spain after a 10-day training camp in Belgium which included a 0-0 draw with Denmark.

It is the first time DR Congo has qualified for the World Cup since 1974 when they competed as Zaire, finishing bottom of their group after defeats by Scotland, Brazil and Yugoslavia.

They plan to base themselves in Houston during the tournament and are scheduled to open their Group K campaign there against Portugal on 17 June.

They will then travel to the Mexican city of Guadalajara to face Colombia before returning to the United States to take on Uzbekistan in Atlanta.

The outbreak in eastern DR Congo has been caused by a rare species of Ebola known as Bundibugyo.

There is currently no vaccine for this species and the World Health Organisation has said it could take up to nine months for a jab to be ready.