Belgium winger Jeremy Doku has confirmed that he will rejoin the national team after temporarily leaving the squad to attend the birth of his first child. The...
Belgium winger Jeremy Doku has confirmed that he will rejoin the national team after temporarily leaving the squad to attend the birth of his first child.
The Manchester City star travelled from Belgium’s World Cup camp to London to be with his wife, Shireen, who gave birth to a baby boy named Praise on Monday. Reports said both mother and child are doing well.
Doku had received permission from the Belgian Football Federation to leave the squad and be present for the special family occasion. The 24-year-old was also recovering from illness and missed Belgium’s recent Group G match against Iran.
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According to Reuters, Doku is expected to rejoin the Belgian squad and continue preparations for the team’s final group-stage match.
The Belgian international had previously made it clear that family remained important to him and that he wanted to be present for the birth of his child. His decision attracted widespread support from fellow players and supporters.
Doku’s temporary departure also sparked debate in France after television presenter France Pierron criticised his decision. The comments received backlash, prompting an apology from both the presenter and broadcaster L’Equipe.
Despite the controversy, Belgium’s coaching staff supported the winger’s decision and prioritised his health and family commitments. Reuters reported that medical staff had cleared Doku to travel safely.
The birth of his son marks a major personal milestone for the Manchester City attacker, who has become one of Belgium’s key players in recent years.
With the family celebrations complete, Doku is now set to return to international duty as Belgium continues its campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
