Jérémy Doku is out for Belgium against Iran, so Is Doku injured has a clear answer for Saturday’s World Cup match at 3 p.m. ET on FS1. Belgium has lost one of its quickest attackers for Group G after a respiratory infection kept him out of Matchday 2.
Doku Misses Iran at 3 p.m. ET
The absence lands at a tense moment for Belgium, which opened with a 1-1 draw against Egypt and could not count on Doku when it faced Iran. RTBFsport said: "Jeremy Doku is ruled out for Belgium vs Iran in #FIFAWorldCup Group G due to a respiratory infection."
Doku had been in the middle of Belgium’s attack against Egypt, where he finished with 3 successful dribbles, 8 duels won, 6 touches in the opposition’s box and 21 run-ins behind Egypt’s backline. Belgium still produced only 3 shots on target and missed 2 big chances, even though Romelu Lukaku scored its only goal within 25 seconds of coming onto the pitch.
Belgium's Attack Without Doku
That output shows why his absence matters now. Belgium needed direct running in behind, and Doku provided it against Egypt before the respiratory problem pushed him out for the Iran game.
Reports over the weekend said he had been battling respiratory issues for weeks, which explains why the decision was not a one-match nuisance but a fitness call tied to his condition. HLN_BE added: "Avant l’annonce de son forfait contre l’Iran suite à son infection respiratoire persistante, Jeremy Doku n’est pas apparu dans la meilleure de sa forme à l’entraînement de la veille 😕Nous lui souhaitons un bon rétablissement dans cette période compliquée 🙏"
Rudi Garcia Leaves Return Open
Rudi Garcia declined to comment on the length of Doku’s absence, so Belgium is left to manage the rest of Group G without a clear return date from one of its best attackers. Reports over the weekend also said Doku would leave the World Cup to attend the birth of his first child, with his wife due in the second week of July.
Belgium’s last group-stage match is against New Zealand on Friday, June 26, at Vancouver’s BC Place, and that is the next point where his availability would matter again. Until then, the immediate answer is simple: he did not play against Iran, and Belgium had to move on without him.
