For most footballers, playing at the FIFA World Cup is the biggest dream of their careers. But for Belgium star Jeremy Doku, another life-changing moment may take priority over football.
The Manchester City winger has revealed that he is prepared to leave the FIFA World Cup 2026 midway to be present for the birth of his first child. His baby is expected to be born during the second week of July, meaning Doku could miss Belgium’s knockout matches if the team progresses further in the tournament.
Speaking about the possibility, Doku made it clear about his feelings.
“It’s my first child, so I would definitely want to be there,” he said. “If you ask me what I want, my answer is that nobody wants to miss the birth of their first child.”
While many fans appreciated his family-first approach, his comments also sparked a major debate online. Critics questioned whether a player should leave the biggest tournament in football for a personal event, especially when representing his country on the global stage.
The controversy intensified after L’Equipe presenter France Pierron shared her opinion on social media. She wrote that the World Cup is a dream that countless footballers would do anything to experience and criticised Doku’s willingness to walk away from it.
In her post, she went even further, saying that fathers are “completely useless” during childbirth. The remark immediately triggered severe backlash, with many people calling her comments insensitive and outdated. Facing criticism from fans and social media users, Pierron later apologised.
Meanwhile, Belgium have fresh concerns surrounding Doku’s fitness. The winger will miss Sunday’s World Cup clash against Iran due to illness. Reports suggest that he experienced breathing issues during training earlier this week.
Doku had started Belgium’s opening match against Egypt and played until the 86th minute in a surprising 1-1 draw. The result has put added pressure on Belgium, who are currently ranked 10th in the world and now need a strong performance against Iran to stay on course to top their group.
Belgium’s final group stage match will be against New Zealand on Friday.
For now, Doku is facing a heart-wrenching decision between representing his country and witnessing the birth of his first child. On one hand is the FIFA World Cup, a tournament that every footballer dreams of winning. On the other is the birth of his first child, a once-in-a-lifetime family moment.
And judging by his words, the Belgian star already knows where his heart lies.
