Belgium’s Doku returns to World Cup camp following medical clearance for paternity leave

The Belgian Football Association has confirmed that international forward Jeremy Doku has become a father, with the birth of a son named Praise taking place in London. The announcement follows a period of intense scrutiny regarding Doku’s temporary departure from the FIFA World Cup camp in Seattle to attend the delivery, a decision that required specific medical coordination to ensure the player’s safety during travel.

Team doctor Brahim Hacene provided the clinical justification for the travel, stating that Doku received news of the imminent birth prior to Sunday’s match against Iran. Although the 24-year-old had already been ruled out of that fixture due to illness, Hacene confirmed that Doku had been receiving appropriate medical treatment for several days. This regimen allowed him to fly to the United Kingdom without medical risk, ensuring he could be present for the arrival of his first child.

The decision to prioritise family presence over tournament duties initially triggered a significant public relations incident involving L’Equipe TV, the broadcast arm of the historic French sports newspaper. A presenter on the channel made comments characterising fathers as “useless” at childbirth and suggesting that numerous footballers would have “killed to play in a World Cup.” The remarks prompted an immediate online backlash, leading the broadcaster to issue an apology, distance itself from the presenter’s views, and suspend her from her programme.

Doku is scheduled to rejoin the Belgium squad in Seattle on Tuesday. His return comes as the national team seeks to stabilise its performance in the tournament. Belgium has drawn both of its group matches so far, including a scoreless result against Iran in Los Angeles, which drew criticism from domestic media for a lacklustre display. The team, currently in a rebuilding phase following the group stage exit of their “golden generation” at the 2022 World Cup, faces a decisive final group match against New Zealand on Friday.

Belgium can secure progression to the last 32 with a victory over New Zealand. Doku, who started the opening match against Egypt but struggled to make an impact before being substituted, is regarded as one of the key young talents in the current squad. The Belgian Football Association noted that the mother, father, and baby are all doing “wonderfully” as the team prepares for the knockout stage implications of their final group encounter.