Read 4 minutes21 Jun 2026 02:51 PM IST
Belgium desperately need a positive result against Iran in Los Angeles after being held to a draw against Egypt. They can do without debating one of the key players in their fatherhood.
Pacy winger Jeremy Doku is known for his dribbling skills, but the Manchester City star may have caught Belgian fans and some of his teammates and coaching staff off guard when he announced he would be leaving the North American team and heading back home to welcome the arrival of his first child.
That Doku will also not play against Iran – due to illness – will do little to appease those who believe a player must sacrifice family moments to be with the team. The boy is expected in the second week of July, when the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup are in full swing and as things stand, Belgium have work to do. But with the final group match being against New Zealand in Vancouver, things will go badly pear-shaped for them not to advance. They would ideally like to win their group to get an easy opponent, theoretically, in the round of 32.
“It’s my first child, so I definitely want to be there,” said the 24-year-old. “If you ask me what I want, my answer is, nobody wants to miss the birth of their first child.”
Not everyone agreed that family should take precedence over football, and they may have wondered why the Norwegian centre-back couldn’t do what Doku couldn’t. Lion Östigård did – following his first born on FaceTime while with his team at the World Cup. L’Equipe channel presenter Frans Pieron believes that fathers are “totally useless” at the time of a child’s birth and that Doku should respect the privilege of representing his country at the World Cup.
“The World Cup is an incredible joy,” she posted on the Facebook page of French sports publication L’Equipe.
“There are hundreds of footballers who would kill to be in your shoes. It can never happen again in your life. You’re living a childhood dream, yet you’re walking away from it all for the birth of your son – a disgusting moment, if you’ll pardon the expression, where dads are completely useless.”
However, she had to apologize after her comments sparked a backlash.
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“I was expressing a personal opinion regarding the controversial exchange,” Pierron said. “I understand that they may have shocked, hurt or wounded some of you and I am sorry for that. My intention was never to diminish the position or role of fathers with their spouses and their children.”
Boxer Brahim Aslom, the 2000 Sydney Olympic gold medalist for France, puts things into perspective.
“A baby is your whole life. When the World Cup is over, it’s over,” he wrote.
Not all reactions were serious.
“Why don’t they bring his wife to the USA to give birth? Young Doku can play for the USMNT after 18 years. 😎”
This is a nod to the case of Folarin Balogun, who was born in America when his pregnant mother was not allowed to travel to London and has now become a huge star for his World Cup co-hosts.