Michy Doku featured 86 minutes in Belgium's 1-1 Group G draw with Egypt but missed the 0-0 stalemate against Iran after falling ill. His wife Shireen is due in early July, a timeline that could clash with a potential quarter‑final if Belgium advance. Doku told Reuters he does not want to miss his first child's birth, yet acknowledges football’s competing demands.

England striker Ollie Watkins, a father of two, defended Doku, calling any criticism of a birth “disgusting” and stressing the rarity of a first child. The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) echoed that sentiment, saying players’ fundamental family moments must not be sacrificed. The Fatherhood Institute added that men receive far less institutional support than women, whose FIFA maternity rules guarantee 14 weeks paid leave.

Past cases show mixed outcomes: Fabian Delph left England’s 2018 World Cup camp for his daughter’s birth, David Silva missed two City games after his son arrived early, while Norway’s Leo Østigård only watched his newborn via FaceTime from Qatar. These anecdotes highlight a gap in policy that forces players to choose between club duty and a once‑in‑a‑lifetime family event.