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DR Congo Fan Michel Mboladinga Attends One World Cup Match but Denied U.S. Visa for Others
Michel Mboladinga, the DR Congo supporter known for his statue-like pose honoring Patrice Lumumba, attended the team's match against Colombia in Mexico. He was denied entry for games against Uzbekistan and England.
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DR Congo will play its World Cup match on Wednesday without Michel Mboladinga, the supporter who gained attention for remaining statue-still in the stands during matches. Mboladinga attended the team's second match against Colombia in Mexico but was denied a U.S. visa for the games against Uzbekistan and England.
Mboladinga rose to prominence during the most recent Africa Cup of Nations. DR Congo drew its second group match against Senegal and lost 1-0 to Algeria in the round of 16. His motionless pose throughout matches mimics a famous statue of Patrice Lumumba, the first prime minister of the Republic of the Congo who was assassinated on January 17, 1961.
After the round-of-16 defeat, Mboladinga was carried from the stands as a national hero. Algeria player Mohamed Amine Amoura mocked the gesture by falling to the ground but later issued a public apology. The Algerian team invited Mboladinga to its training camp and gave him a jersey with "Lumumba" on the back.
DR Congo last appeared at the World Cup in 1974 under the name Zaire. Mobutu Sese Seko seized power in a 1965 coup, renamed the country Zaire in 1971, and was overthrown in 1997. DR Congo qualified for the 2026 World Cup through playoffs.
The team covered Mboladinga's flights and accommodation for the tournament.
