Belgium’s Jeremy Doku criticised over plan to leave World Cup to attend birth of first child

Key Points:

• Belgium winger Jeremy Doku has faced criticism for stating his intention to leave the 2026 FIFA World Cup squad to attend the birth of his first child, which coincides with the tournament's quarter-final stage.
• France Pierron, a presenter on L’Equipe, called Doku's decision "disgusting," arguing that fathers are not essential during childbirth and that missing the World Cup is unacceptable; her comments sparked backlash and she later apologized for any offense caused.
• Doku, 24, started Belgium's opening World Cup match against Egypt but was later ruled out of the upcoming game against Iran due to illness.
• Other players, including Kingsley Coman, Phil Foden, and Ryan Gravenberch, have previously left national team duties or matches to attend the birth of their children, highlighting that this is not an unprecedented issue in football.
• The topic extends beyond football, as MLB star Shohei Ohtani recently took paternity leave to attend the birth of his second child, illustrating the broader relevance of balancing professional sports commitments with family life.