DR Congo's 'Living Statue' superfan denied US visa, misses World Cup clash against Uzbekistan

Michel Kuka Mboladinga, the DR Congo supporter known worldwide as “Lumumba Vea” for standing motionless like a bronze statue among his nation’s fans, has been denied a United States visa and missed DR Congo’s Group K World Cup clash against Uzbekistan at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta — his second absence of the tournament.

Mboladinga confirmed the news himself on social media, where he has amassed more than 255,000 Instagram followers during the tournament. He posted a photograph of himself in his trademark statue pose alongside the message: “Good luck to our national team. History is being made again. May God bless the DRC.”

DR Congo went on to beat Uzbekistan and advance to the knockout phase, setting up a last-16 meeting with England in Atlanta. However, Mboladinga will be unable to attend that fixture either while the visa restriction remains in place. The United States government has not publicly explained the refusal; under long-established privacy laws, the State Department does not comment on individual visa cases.

This is the second World Cup match Mboladinga has been forced to miss. He was absent from DR Congo’s opening group game against Portugal due to travel restrictions connected to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Central Africa. He did travel to the team’s fixture against Colombia in Mexico. Congolese ambassador to Washington, Kapinga Yvette Ngandu, confirmed the situation and expressed cautious optimism. “I hope he brings his own brand of support to the team,” she said, adding that she hoped Mboladinga might still secure a visa if DR Congo continue their run.

The World Health Organization recorded more than 1,203 confirmed cases of the Ebola Bundibugyo virus with 321 deaths as of Thursday, and DR Congo travellers have faced heightened screening as a result. The Congolese football federation president has separately called on FIFA to reimburse supporters affected by Ebola-related travel restrictions.

Mboladinga, who acts as an official ambassador for the DR Congo football federation, has become one of the most recognisable faces of the 2026 World Cup. His tribute pose — standing completely still to honour martyred African hero Patrice Lumumba — has inspired fans from Brazil, Colombia, and beyond, with DR Congo supporters replicating the statue stance inside the stadium during the Uzbekistan match in a show of solidarity with their absent icon.