US Presses Europe for Ebola Travel Restrictions Ahead of 2026 World Cup

The U.S. State Department, represented by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urged European Union leaders to impose stricter travel restrictions on individuals who have been in the Democratic Republic of Congo or Uganda, where a Bundibugyo‑strain Ebola outbreak has been declared a Public Health Emergency. Rubio discussed the matter with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, warning that insufficient measures could lead the United States to tighten its own entry rules for travelers from Europe as the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins Thursday in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The United States has already barred entry for non‑citizens who visited the affected African countries within the preceding 21 days and has set up quarantine procedures for returning American citizens. Washington has contributed more than $200 million in medical supplies and funding to combat the outbreak, while the EU announced an additional €16.5 million in aid on top of a prior €15 million commitment. European authorities have focused on coordinated preparedness and targeted precautions rather than a continent‑wide ban. The discussion comes as the World Cup is expected to draw millions of international visitors, heightening concerns about cross‑border disease transmission.