Belgium winger Jeremy Doku is facing a personal dilemma as his wife is due to give birth during the World Cup, and he has expressed a strong desire to be present for the occasion. The 24-year-old Manchester City player is a key figure for Belgium, who begin their campaign against Egypt in Seattle on Monday.
Potential Conflict with World Cup Schedule
According to Belgian media, Doku's wife Shireen is expected to give birth in the second week of July, which coincides with the quarter-final stage of the tournament. If Belgium advances that far, Doku would need to leave the United States to attend the birth in England, where the child is due to be born.
“It depends on when it happens, but it’s my first child, so I would definitely want to be there,” Doku told reporters. “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.”
Federation Support and Logistics
Doku acknowledged the support from the Belgian federation, stating, “I know the federation supports its players and understands their situations. We’ll see what we can do.” Belgian media have reported that a private plane to England would likely be arranged to facilitate his return.
Defender Brandon Mechele is in a similar situation, with his wife due to give birth a week after Doku's wife, adding another layer of complexity for the team management.
