Jérémy Doku received the news just before the match. His wife Shireen was about to give birth in London, and he was in Los Angeles, training with Belgium for the 2026 World Cup. The Belgian Federation did not hesitate: it authorized the trip, put a team doctor on the plane, and Doku left. On June 22, while Belgium drew 0-0 against Iran without him, the Manchester City winger was meeting Praise, his first child.
What came next surprised everyone. France Pierron, presenter on the channel L’Équipe, said that childbirth is “a disgusting moment where the father is useless” — and the reaction was immediate and overwhelming. L’Équipe issued a public apology. The Professional Footballers’ Association of the Premier League backed Doku without hesitation. Players, coaches, and millions of people on social media took his side.
Doku has already rejoined the squad in Seattle. He is not the first: Fabian Delph did the same in Russia 2018, and David de Gea received similar permission from his club. But his case went further, because in the football world of 2026, choosing to be a father before being a star still seems to be an act that needs defending.