According to Yonhap News on June 23, the Belgian Football Association announced that Doku and his wife recently welcomed their son, named Praise.
The association stated that Doku received news of his wife's impending labor just before a match. After consulting with the team’s medical staff, he temporarily left the squad to travel to London, England, to be present for the birth. Doku is expected to rejoin the team in Seattle, USA, on the evening of June 23 local time.
Prior to the World Cup group stage opener against Egypt, Doku had publicly shared his desire to be present for the birth, stating, "If possible, I want to be there. No father wants to miss that moment."
However, his comments sparked controversy, with some figures in the soccer community suggesting that a father’s presence at the birth is not essential. Belgian soccer commentator Gert Verheyen remarked during a broadcast that "the father is essentially just a bystander at the birth. All he can do is cheer," a sentiment echoed by French sports journalist Franck Piéroun, who faced backlash for similar remarks.
In response to the growing controversy, Lequipe issued an official statement apologizing to Doku, clarifying that the comments did not reflect the publication's values. American sports outlet The Athletic also criticized the debate as "outdated."
Meanwhile, Doku started in the group stage opener against Egypt but was excluded from the lineup for the second match against Iran on June 22. The Belgian team explained that Doku missed the match due to respiratory infection symptoms.
Belgian team physician Brahim Hassen stated, "Doku has received appropriate treatment for several days and is in a condition to fly without medical risk. Everything went smoothly, and both the parents and the baby are healthy."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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