Sports
Despite Ebola outbreak, DR Congo prepares for World Cup
May 14, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; The FIFA World Cup trophy on display before a game between the Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs in The Battery Atlanta at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s soccer team is attempting to navigate through a national Ebola outbreak in its preparations for the World Cup, though the squad still expects to compete in North America this summer.
FIFA issued a statement that “it is aware of and monitoring the situation regarding an Ebola outbreak and is in close communication with the Congo DR Football Association to ensure that the team are made aware of all medical and security guidance.
“FIFA continues to work with all three FIFA World Cup 2026 host countries’ governments, including the US Department of State, CDC and Department of Homeland Security, Mexico’s Secretariat of Health and the Public Health Agency of Canada, as well as with the World Health Organization, to ensure a safe and secure tournament, as the health of all individuals involved remains FIFA’s priority.”
DR Congo scrapped a planned training camp that was due to be held in the capital of Kinshasa this coming Sunday.
“Our team’s preparation program is proceeding as planned in Europe and Houston,” a DR Congo spokesperson told Politico.com. “It is the Kinshasa leg that has been cancelled due to health restrictions.”
The DR Congo team is due to make Houston its North American base during the summer, with its opening Group K game scheduled in that city on June 17 against Portugal. DR Congo’s other group games will be on June 23 against Colombia in Zapopan, Mexico, and on June 27 against Uzbekistan in Atlanta.
The president of Houston’s World Cup host committee, Chris Canetti, told USA Today, “As you can imagine, we are taking advisement from FIFA and health officials on this. As of now, there are no change in plans. The team arrival date is scheduled for June 11.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday paused entry to the country for 30 days by people who have recently visited the sites of the Ebola outbreak: DR Congo, Uganda and South Sudan.
Satish Pillai, incident manager for CDC’s Ebola response, said Tuesday, according to Politico.com, “We’re actively working with FIFA to ensure that there is safe traveling, safe passage, and ensuring that travelers and the American public remain safe throughout.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Brewers' Kyle Harrison dominates as Cubs shut out for fifth straight loss
May 20, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Kyle Harrison (52) throws the ball against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images Kyle Harrison allowed two hits over seven shutout innings to help the visiting Milwaukee Brewers finish off the three-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs with a 5-0 win on Wednesday evening.
Harrison (5-1) struck out 11 and walked one while lowering his ERA to 1.77.
David Hamilton singled twice, tripled, scored two runs and drove in another in the No. 9 spot, and William Contreras also had three hits and scored a run for Milwaukee, which has won three in a row and six of seven. Left-hander DL Hall pitched two innings of no-hit ball to complete the shutout.
Edward Cabrera (3-2) started for the Cubs and allowed four runs and four hits in three innings before getting lifted one pitch into the fourth inning because of a blister on his right middle finger. The right-hander struck out two and walked two.
The Cubs have lost a season-high five in a row and nine of eleven after getting off to a 27-12 start.
The Brewers successfully challenged for catcher’s interference on Carson Kelly with one out in the second, putting Sal Frelick on base. Joey Ortiz then walked, bringing up Hamilton, who hit a hard single up the middle that Pete Crow-Armstrong charged, but the ball rolled under his glove and continued to the warning track, allowing all three runners to score for a 3-0 lead.
Contreras walked to lead off the third inning. He stole second, continued to third on a throwing error by Kelly and scored on Jake Bauers’ two-out single through the right side to make it 4-0.
With one out in the seventh, Hamilton tripled into the right field corner on a ball that went off the chest of right fielder Seiya Suzuki. Hamilton then scored on a wild pitch by Phil Maton to make it 5-0.
Harrison allowed a leadoff double into the left field corner by Nico Hoerner in the first. Hoerner tried to advance to third on deep fly to left-center and he was initially ruled safe, but Milwaukee challenged and the replay showed center fielder Garrett Mitchell’s throw was in time.
Harrison also walked Suzuki to start the second, but the 24-year-old left-hander retired the next 15 batters in a row before Alex Bregman singled to lead off the seventh. He was left stranded at first base.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Blue Jays RHP Jose Berrios undergoes Tommy John surgery
Feb 28, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Jose Berrios (17) throws a pitch against the New York Yankees in the second inning during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Jose Berrios will miss at least another year of action after undergoing Tommy John surgery on Wednesday.
Dr. Keith Meister performed the procedure in Texas, beginning with the hope that only a minor removal of “loose bodies” in the elbow would be required. However, the ultimate diagnosis was that a full elbow ligament reconstruction was required.
“The bone in the elbow was on the ligament. Not ideal,” Toronto manager John Schneider said. “We kind of decided that, when they go in there, if that’s compromised at all, we’ll fix it. It was. He’ll be down for 12 to 14 months.”
Berrios has been on the injured list all season while trying to work his way back from the elbow ailment that kept him off the team’s postseason roster last fall. He made four minor league rehab appearances in the past month, going 0-1 with a 10.67 ERA in Class-A and Triple-A. Most recently, his fastball velocity was lower than normal for Triple-A Buffalo.
The 31-year-old veteran had been an ever-present part of the Toronto rotation since the Blue Jays acquired him from the Minnesota Twins in a July 2021 trade. He made at least 30 starts in each of the past five seasons, though he was briefly moved to the bullpen last September before landing on the injured list.
“It’s weird not having him,” Schneider said. “We were looking for him to get back to normal, and he was hoping for that, too. It’s definitely weird and frustrating for him, too.”
Last year, Berrios went 9-5 with a 4.17 ERA in 31 games (30 starts).
A two-time All-Star, Berrios has a career 108-82 record and a 4.08 ERA in 275 games, including 273 starts, for Minnesota (2016-21) and Toronto (2021-25).
He has two years and $48 million remaining on the seven-year, $131 million extension he signed with the Blue Jays in November 2021.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Blue Jays RHP Jose Berrios undergoes Tommy John surgery
Feb 28, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Jose Berrios (17) throws a pitch against the New York Yankees in the second inning during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Jose Berrios will miss at least another year of action after undergoing Tommy John surgery on Wednesday.
Dr. Keith Meister performed the procedure in Texas, beginning with the hope that only a minor removal of “loose bodies” in the elbow would be required. However, the ultimate diagnosis was that a full elbow ligament reconstruction was required.
“The bone in the elbow was on the ligament. Not ideal,” Toronto manager John Schneider said. “We kind of decided that, when they go in there, if that’s compromised at all, we’ll fix it. It was. He’ll be down for 12 to 14 months.”
Berrios has been on the injured list all season while trying to work his way back from the elbow ailment that kept him off the team’s postseason roster last fall. He made four minor league rehab appearances in the past month, going 0-1 with a 10.67 ERA in Class-A and Triple-A. Most recently, his fastball velocity was lower than normal for Triple-A Buffalo.
The 31-year-old veteran had been an ever-present part of the Toronto rotation since the Blue Jays acquired him from the Minnesota Twins in a July 2021 trade. He made at least 30 starts in each of the past five seasons, though he was briefly moved to the bullpen last September before landing on the injured list.
“It’s weird not having him,” Schneider said. “We were looking for him to get back to normal, and he was hoping for that, too. It’s definitely weird and frustrating for him, too.”
Last year, Berrios went 9-5 with a 4.17 ERA in 31 games (30 starts).
A two-time All-Star, Berrios has a career 108-82 record and a 4.08 ERA in 275 games, including 273 starts, for Minnesota (2016-21) and Toronto (2021-25).
He has two years and $48 million remaining on the seven-year, $131 million extension he signed with the Blue Jays in November 2021.
–Field Level Media
Brewers' Kyle Harrison dominates as Cubs shut out for fifth straight loss
Blue Jays RHP Jose Berrios undergoes Tommy John surgery
