Jeremy Doku, one of the brightest young talents in the Belgian national squad, has welcomed the birth of his first child — a baby boy named Praise — after temporarily leaving the FIFA World Cup 2026 to be with his wife in London. The Belgian Football Association confirmed the news on Monday, announcing that mother, father, and baby are all doing well.
Doku, 24, had already been ruled out of Belgium's second group match against Iran in Los Angeles due to a respiratory infection when, shortly before kick-off, the team's medical staff received word that the birth was imminent. Team doctor Brahim Hacene confirmed that Doku had been receiving treatment for several days and was cleared to travel without medical risk. "As he had already been receiving the appropriate medical treatment for several days, he was able to fly without any medical risk to be with his family during this very special moment," Hacene said, adding that the illness was genuine and not a pretext for his departure. Doku is expected to rejoin his teammates in Seattle on Tuesday to begin preparations for Belgium's final group match against New Zealand on Friday.
The player's decision to prioritise the birth of his child had already drawn public debate before it happened. A presenter on L'Équipe TV — the television channel of the historic French sports newspaper — sparked widespread backlash when she argued that fathers are "useless" at childbirth and suggested that hundreds of players would have given anything to compete at a World Cup in Doku's place. The remarks ignited an online storm, prompting L'Équipe to issue a formal apology and distance itself from the comments. The presenter has since been stood down from her programme.
On the pitch, Belgium — known as the Red Devils — are navigating a transitional period after their celebrated "golden generation," which included players such as Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku, exited the 2022 World Cup in Qatar at the group stage. The current squad has made a cautious start, drawing both of their opening matches, including a goalless draw against Iran that drew sharp criticism from Belgian media. A win over New Zealand would be enough to secure their place in the round of 32.
Doku's situation touches on a broader and recurring debate in elite sport about the balance between professional obligation and personal milestones. The swift backlash against his critics — and the federation's public support for his decision — reflect shifting expectations around fatherhood and the pressures placed on athletes at the highest level.