Belgium football star Jeremy Doku may miss the 2026 World Cup to be present for the birth of his first child.
Doku made his intentions clear ahead of Belgium’s crucial match against Iran, a fixture that holds significant weight for the team following their draw with Egypt in the tournament opener.
The baby is expected to be born in the second week of July, meaning Doku could be absent if Belgium advances to the knockout stages.
“This is my first child, so I definitely want to be there. If you ask me what I want, my answer is that no one wants to miss the birth of their first child,” Doku stated.
L’Equipe presenter France Pierron reacted strongly to Doku’s remarks, emphasizing the importance of the World Cup for players and arguing that a father is essentially useless during childbirth.
“The World Cup is an incredible joy. Hundreds of footballers would give everything to be in your position. This might never happen again in your life. You are living your childhood dream, yet you’re willing to give it all up to be at the birth of your child – a terrible moment, if I may say so, when the father is completely useless,” she wrote on L’Equipe’s Facebook page.
However, Pierron later apologized for her comments after facing sharp criticism.
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