England striker Ollie Watkins has leaped to the defence of Belgian winger Jérémy Doku, who is facing intense public backlash

Manchester City star Jeremy Doku was bizarrely ripped apart over leaving Belgium's World Cup squad to be there for the birth of his first child

The winger said his wife Shireen is due to give birth during the second week of July — which would coincide with the quarter-final stage.

L'Equipe channel presenter France Pierron has so far been the fiercest critic of Doku’s potential move. | Football News

The birth of a child, particularly your first, is a life-changing event. Doku the parent is so much more important than Doku the footballer

Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku has said that he planning to leave the World Cup, where he is playing for Belgium, to be present at the birth of his first child

Jeremy Doku plans to leave the 2026 World Cup for his child's birth, sparking backlash and raising questions about crypto athlete endorsement strategies.

Belgium’s star winger will be a first-time father come July.

Doku, who will miss Belgium’s match against Iran due to illness, plans to return home for the birth of his first child even if Belgium are still in the tournament

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleBelgium winger Jeremy Doku plans to leave…

KANSAS CITY, Missouri, June 21 : England striker Ollie Watkins has defended Belgium winger Jeremy Doku's wish to leave the World Cup to be present for the birth of his first…

Belgium’s Jeremy Doku is expected to leave the World Cup for the birth of his first child

Jeremy Doku has unintentionally been at the centre of a World Cup row after L'Equipe presenter France Pierron took aim at his decision to leave the competition early to attend the…

Belgium’s Jeremy Doku also won plenty of support, including from England’s striker, over his desire to return to his wife for the arrival of their first child.

Jeremy Doku has been criticised as 'disgusting' for his decision to leave the Belgium squad to be with his wife for the birth of their first child

Doku, who missed Belgium’s clash against Iran on Sunday due to a chest infection, recently said his wife, Shireen, is expected to give birth in the second week of July.

England striker Ollie Watkins has leaped to the defence of Belgian winger Jérémy Doku, who is facing intense public backlash

Le joueur de l'équipe d'Angleterre Ollie Watkins, qui dispute la Coupe du monde, a pris la défense de Jérémy Doku ce dimanche 21 juin 2026.

Jeremy Doku faces criticism for prioritising the birth of his first child over Belgium's World Cup campaign. | Football News

Jeremy Doku has become a father, the Belgian football association announced Monday, days after the player's plans to leave the World Cup to be there for the birth sparked…

The French media outlet distanced itself from criticism of Jérémy Doku’s plan to fly back from the World Cup for the birth of his first child