Jérémy Doku Faces Early July Birth Window During World Cup Run

jérémy doku may be forced to choose between Belgium’s World Cup knockout phase and the birth of his first child. The 24-year-old said his wife, Shireen, is expected to give birth in early July, right around the rounds of 32 and 16. That timing could pull him away from a tournament match in Seattle and send him back to England.

Doku and Shireen

Doku laid out the conflict plainly: "No one wants to miss a birth." He added, "Moreover, it is my first child." Those two lines explain why the issue sits outside the normal lineup churn that comes with a World Cup campaign.

He said he would have to travel from Seattle to England to be there when Shireen goes into labor. Belgium’s knockout phase is scheduled to land in early July, which puts the family timeline directly against the part of the tournament where one absence can change a match plan immediately.

Belgium's World Cup timing

The concern comes while Belgium is in the middle of its World Cup run, with Doku already part of the squad picture as a Manchester City forward who has represented Belgium since 2020. He has scored seven goals in 42 appearances for his country, including a goal in a 4-3 qualifying win over Wales in 2025 and two more in a 7-0 victory over Liechtenstein that clinched Belgium’s berth.

Belgium’s route to the tournament also included a 7-0 result over Liechtenstein in qualifying, and Doku said, "In any case, the FA sympathizes with the players and our situations, so we will see what we can do." That leaves the situation in the hands of family timing and tournament timing, with no clean solution if labor starts during a knockout week.

Seattle training watch

The backdrop to all of this is Doku’s World Cup preparation in Seattle. He reportedly left Tuesday’s training session early because of breathing issues, but was a full participant in all portions of practice leading up to Monday’s match that media could watch.

For Belgium, the practical issue is simple: if early July arrives during the knockout phase, Doku could be unavailable at the exact point when the margin for lineup changes gets tight. For him, the decision is not about form or selection. It is about whether the birth of his son happens while Belgium is still playing.