Jérémy Doku left the Belgium World Cup 2026 camp on Sunday and went to London for the birth of his first child, a boy named Praise. The Belgian federation said on Monday that he would rejoin the group Tuesday evening, a brief absence that removes one of Belgium's attackers from camp only days before its third group-stage match.
The timing matters because Belgium is building toward Saturday's meeting with New Zealand, and the federation made clear that Doku's departure was handled with the team staff. Before Sunday's match against Iran, the RBFA had already said the birth was imminent, then allowed him to leave temporarily to be with his wife.
Monday's update landed inside a busy World Cup 2026 cycle that also featured Lionel Messi moving ahead of Miroslav Klose with his 17th World Cup goal, while storm warnings were hanging over another match area. That weather threat added uncertainty around France-Irak, but it did not change the separate news from Belgium: Doku was away, his child had arrived, and his return was already set.
For Belgium, the key point is simple enough. Doku's absence is temporary, but his availability for the week ahead now depends on whether he comes back on schedule Tuesday evening and is ready to turn straight back to the squad before Saturday.
