Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku has sparked controversy after confirming he plans to leave Belgium's World Cup 2026 camp for the birth of his first child. The 24-year-old revealed his wife Shireen is due in mid-July, potentially during the quarter-final stage, and he intends to return home despite his national team commitments.

Doku acknowledged the difficult choice, telling Reuters that while nobody wants to miss their child's birth, football involves other considerations. He added that the Belgian federation supports players and understands their situations, suggesting a resolution will be found between both parties.

The decision has drawn sharp criticism from L'Equipe presenter France Pierron, who branded Doku "completely useless" as a father during such a moment. She emphasized that the World Cup represents an irreplaceable childhood dream that many players would "kill to be in your shoes" for.

This situation puts Belgium's World Cup preparations under unwanted scrutiny, forcing the federation to navigate supporting their player while maintaining team focus during football's biggest tournament.