DR Congo's iconic 'human statue' superfan denied US visa for England World Cup clash

Michel Kuka Mboladinga, the DR Congo superfan who went viral for standing completely still throughout matches in tribute to assassinated Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, has been denied a US visa and will miss his country’s last-32 clash against England at the 2026 World Cup.

Mboladinga — widely known as ‘Lumumba Vea’ — was absent when DR Congo beat Uzbekistan 3-1 in Atlanta on Saturday to qualify from Group K and reach the knockout stage for the first time in the country’s history. It was only their second World Cup appearance, following their politically charged 1974 tournament when the nation competed as Zaire.

The 280,000-follower Instagram ambassador had already missed DR Congo’s opening group game, a 1-1 draw with Portugal, after being placed in quarantine due to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in his home country. He was, however, present for the side’s 1-0 defeat to Colombia in Guadalajara, where he first captured global attention.

Dressed in a red jacket and tie with a yellow shirt and blue trousers — the colours of the DR Congo flag — Mboladinga stands motionless throughout matches, raising his arm in a pose mirroring a statue of Lumumba in Kinshasa. The stillness places him in striking contrast to the vibrant singing and dancing of the supporters around him.

According to Reuters, the US government has not publicly disclosed the reason for rejecting his visa application, in line with long-established privacy laws that prevent comment on individual cases. The Ebola outbreak in DR Congo has contributed to heightened screening, quarantine measures, and visa delays for travellers from the country.

Despite his absence, Mboladinga’s influence was visible in the stands during the Uzbekistan victory, with fellow DR Congo supporters copying his signature pose in his honour.

“Good luck to our national team. History is being made again. May God bless the DRC,” he wrote on Instagram alongside a photograph of himself in his trademark stance.

As things stand, Mboladinga — who serves as an official ambassador for the DR Congo football federation — will not be present when the Leopards face England in the last 32.