The planned friendly match between DR Congo and Chile has been cancelled over health concerns due to the Ebola outbreak in the African country.
The decision was reached as a precautionary measure taken by Spain, where the match was billed to take place, the European country authorities citing the health risks that may ensue should the match take place.
Mayor of La Linea de la Concepcion, the city planned for the hosting of the match, Juan Franco, said that the June 9 planned fixture would be too early for the to curb the occurrence of the dreaded disease, thus, cancelling the fixture.
Earlier, DR Congo players, currently camped in Belgium, had already cancelled a planned pre-tournament training camp in capital Kinshasa, due to the outbreak. The players have been said not to have visited their homeland recently, but some support staff and fans have travelled from there.
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.
DR Congo, who have qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1974, 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.