Belgium's Jeremy Doku Prioritizes Family As World Cup 2026 Approaches

As the FIFA World Cup 2026 draws near, Belgian footballer Jeremy Doku is preparing for a significant moment in his life - the birth of his first child. With his wife Shireen due to give birth in the second week of July, Doku has expressed his desire to be present for this special occasion, even if it means leaving the tournament temporarily. The 24-year-old player is set to kick off his World Cup journey with Belgium against Egypt in Seattle on Monday. According to reports, the Belgian football federation is working on contingency plans to allow Doku to return home if his child is born during the tournament. Doku stated, 'It depends on when it happens, but it's my first child, so I would definitely want to be there.' He also acknowledged the complexities of professional football, saying, 'If you ask me what I want, my answer is that nobody wants to miss the birth of their first child. But I also know that football involves many other considerations. I know the federation supports its players and understands their situations. We'll see what we can do.' When asked about Belgium's chances of winning the World Cup, Doku said, 'Everyone will say that we want to win this tournament, and I'm not going to be different. Everybody has that desire - to be the Belgium we used to show, and see how far we go. We know we're not the favourites, but maybe that will work in our favour. We want to leave without any regrets - so that if we leave, we've given everything we have. Whatever is in my power, I'll do it.'