Jeremy Doku's World Cup adventure took an unexpected detour as he dashed from Los Angeles to London for the birth of his baby boy, Praise. Just hours before Belgium's nail-biting 1-1 draw against Iran, news reached the winger that his wife was about to give birth – and Doku wasn't going to miss it! With a swift medical clearance, he jetted off with colleague Dr. Brecht De Coninck in tow, ensuring a safe passage for this proud new dad.
It's been a whirlwind few days for the Belgium international, who was initially ruled out of the Iran match due to illness on the eve of the game. Coach Rudi Garcia prioritised Doku's medical fitness over physical readiness – and it seemed like a shrewd decision in hindsight. The team doctor, Brahim Hacene, confirmed that Doku received top-notch medical treatment for several days before being given the all-clear to fly.
The decision to leave the World Cup temporarily sparked some controversy back home, with French TV presenter France Pierron initially questioning Doku's priorities on social media. However, she later issued a heartfelt apology and L'Equipe distanced itself from her remarks – a welcome resolution to what was a messy situation.
Belgium may have drawn both their opening World Cup fixtures against Egypt and Iran, but they'll be hoping for a different outcome in their final group stage match against New Zealand. Doku is set to rejoin his teammates in Seattle on Tuesday evening, just in time to help them bounce back from this tricky situation.