Belgium's Doku Returns to World Cup Camp After Son's Birth

Belgium forward Jérémy Doku rejoined the national team's World Cup training facility in the Seattle area on Tuesday following a brief trip to London for the birth of his first child, a son named Praise. The 24-year-old Manchester City player missed Belgium's 0-0 draw with Iran on Sunday due to a respiratory illness but was cleared by the Belgian Football Association to travel and be present for his family. He was accompanied by team doctor Brecht De Coninck during the journey.

Doku had featured in Belgium's opening World Cup match, a 1-1 draw with Egypt. Upon his return, he expressed gratitude for the support received from teammates and the public. "Shireen and Praise are doing great, and my heart is full of gratitude," Doku said on social media. "Welcoming my son into the world is one of the greatest blessings God has ever given me. Thank you to the team for the support, now it's time to get back to football and represent my country on the biggest stage."

Belgium captain Youri Tielemans publicly supported Doku's decision, noting that being present for a child's birth creates irreplaceable memories. Center back Arthur Theate also welcomed Doku's return, describing him as an important player for the squad. Belgium faces New Zealand on Friday at BC Place in a crucial match that could determine the team's advancement to the knockout round, with the Red Devils having drawn both of their opening matches.

Doku's decision to leave the World Cup temporarily drew criticism from French television presenter France Pierron, who characterized childbirth as "a disgusting moment" where fathers are "useless." The French sports newspaper L'Equipe subsequently apologized to Doku and distanced itself from Pierron's comments, stating they did not represent the publication's values. Pierron was taken off air following the controversy.

Meanwhile, Belgium faced unexpected absences during training on Tuesday, with center back Brandon Mechele and forward Leandro Trossard not appearing during the media-open portion of practice. Both players had completed full 90-minute appearances in Belgium's first two World Cup matches, and the reasons for their absence remained unclear.