Soccer-Belgium's Doku set to rejoin World Cup squad after son's birth


Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Belgium Training - Seattle Sounders FC Performance Centre and Clubhouse, Renton, Washington, U.S. - June 17, 2026 Belgium's Jeremy Doku during training IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Blake Dahlin

MIAMI, ⁠June 23 (Reuters) - Belgium's Jeremy Doku is ⁠preparing to fly back to join ‌the national team at the World Cup after the winger returned to England to be with ​his wife, who gave birth ⁠to a boy ⁠on Monday.

Doku and his wife Shireen welcomed ⁠a ‌boy called Praise.

• The 24-year-old was criticised by a L'Equipe television ⁠presenter for leaving the team midway ​through the ‌tournament to attend the birth.

• Doku ⁠had already ​missed Belgium's 0-0 draw with Iran through illness after playing in their first match, ⁠a 1-1 draw against Egypt.

• "Welcoming ​my son into the world is one of the greatest blessings God has ever ⁠given me," Doku said on Instagram.

• "Now it's time to get back to football and represent my country on the biggest ​stage," he added.

• Belgium, ⁠who are third in Group G, play ​New Zealand in Vancouver ‌in their final group ​game on Friday.

(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Miami; Editing by Alison Williams)

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