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Manchester City and Belgium winger Jérémy Doku has drawn criticism after revealing his plans to leave the World Cup to be present for the birth of his first child.
Doku's wife, Shireen, is expected to give birth during the second week of July, which coincides with the tournament's quarterfinal round. The 24-year-old intends to return to his home in England for the occasion, regardless of whether Belgium is still in the competition.
"It's my first child, so I would definitely want to be there," Doku said earlier this week, per Reuters.
"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. I know the federation supports its players and understands their situations. We'll see what we can do."
According to Belgian media, a private jet to England would likely be arranged for the trip.
Reactions quickly poured in, with L'Equipe channel presenter France Pierron calling it a "disgusting moment" to abandon the national team and arguing that a "father is useless" during childbirth, while French boxer Brahim Asloum fired back, "A baby is your entire life. A World Cup is over when it is over."
Could Belgium Advance to the Quarterfinals?
Belgium, currently ranked 10th in the world by FIFA, is expected to make a strong run this summer, with a quarterfinal appearance considered a realistic target. The Red Devils will be heavily dependent on Doku to get there, however.
The Antwerp-born left winger is one of Belgium's most dangerous attacking weapons, renowned for his sharp dribbling and explosive pace that can leave opposing fullbacks completely off-balance. He had a standout campaign at Manchester City's Etihad Stadium last season, contributing five goals and five assists in league action and helping the Cityzens stay in contention in the Premier League title race until the closing weeks.
Belgium, however, has gotten off to a rocky start this summer, drawing Egypt 1–1 in their opening match on June 15, despite entering Group G as the clear favorite. The Red Devils will be looking for wins against Iran and New Zealand to claim top spot in the group. The situation remains wide open, as New Zealand and Iran also played to a draw in their first game.
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The European powerhouse holds a 52.6% chance of topping Group G, according to Opta, and a 90.9% probability of advancing in some capacity. Belgium has a 55.1% chance of progressing to the round of 16 and a 25.8% chance of reaching the quarterfinals.