Sport: Boxing Country: England Category: Playoffs

D.R. Congo fan denied visa for World Cup knockout stage matches

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 30, 2026, 11:37 PM

Last updated Jun 30, 2026

D.R. Congo fan denied visa for World Cup knockout stage matches

Summary

Michel Kuka Mboladinga, a well-known World Cup super fan from D.R. Congo, has been denied a visa to attend the knockout stages of the tournament this summer in the United States. Mboladinga gained fame for standing like a statue during matches and has only been able to attend one of his country's group stage games against Colombia. The Congolese ambassador to Washington expressed hope for Mboladinga's attendance at future matches. In his absence, a younger fan will take his place and emulate his iconic pose during the matches.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Key Details

•Mboladinga denied visa to attend knockout stages in the US.
•He stood for 90 minutes during D.R. Congo's game against Colombia.
•A younger fan will fill in for him at upcoming matches.
•Ambassador Kapinga Yvette Ngandu hopes for Mboladinga's future attendance.

Latest Updates

11:37 PMYahoo Sports — Iconic World Cup super fan denied a visa to the US as team reaches knockout stages

What they're saying

"
An iconic World Cup super fan will once again be unable to attend his side’s game after he was denied a visa for the knockout stages. Michel Kuka Mboladinga, who has become famous worldwide for standing like a statue for 90 minutes during DR Congo’s games, was expected to be there to support his nation this summer.
— Yahoo Sports

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