World Cup Childbirth Controversy
Jeremy Doku's World Cup Baby Leave Plan Sparks Controversy and Presenter's Apology
Key Points
After receiving backlash, L’Equipe presenter France Pierron later issued a statement saying her remarks were only “a personal opinion” and “commit only me,” adding: “I understand that they may have shocked, hurt, or wounded some of you, and I am sorry for that.”
Belgium’s start to the tournament included Doku starting the 1-1 draw with Egypt; the article notes the game ended level because of “Mohamed Hany own goal in the second half.” Belgium’s remaining group matches are set against Iran (Sunday) and New Zealand (June 26), which could affect whether Doku is absent even earlier than the quarterfinal window.
A Reuters/The Athletic breakdown adds performance context from Belgium’s opener: Doku played “86 minutes against Egypt,” producing “no goal or assist,” with “one chance created,” “one completed dribble,” and “five fouls won.” That level of output is cited as part of why Belgium may need him at the tournament’s most critical stage.
The possible tournament timing is mapped more specifically: the Athletic/Reuters report notes the quarterfinal is “scheduled for July 10 in Los Angeles,” placing Belgium’s likely hardest window inside the period when Doku could be away for the birth.
Belgium winger Jeremy Doku says he plans to leave the World Cup squad briefly to attend the birth of his first child, with his wife due in the second week of July — a window that could overlap with the quarterfinal stage on July 10 in Los Angeles. The announcement sparked immediate backlash from L'Equipe presenter France Pierron, who called the choice "disgusting" and said "a father is useless" at a birth, arguing no one should miss a World Cup "to cut an umbilical cord."
Pierron later walked back her words. "I understand that they may have shocked, hurt, or wounded some of you, and I am sorry for that," she said in a statement, adding that her remarks were "a personal opinion" that "commit only me." The controversy has since grown into a broader debate about fathers, football, and what players owe their national teams.
Doku's Birth Plan Could Hit Belgium's Toughest Window
Doku confirmed that his wife Shireen is due to give birth to a baby boy in the second week of July. Belgium's quarterfinal, if they advance, is scheduled for July 10 in Los Angeles, Reuters reports via The Athletic. That puts the expected birth window — roughly July 7 to July 14 — directly on top of the tournament's most critical stage. Doku said he would "decide based on the timing and the support of the federation."
A return trip from Los Angeles to Europe and back could take 48 to 72 hours. Belgium has not yet issued a definitive ruling on whether Doku will be allowed to go. Much depends on how the team performs in their remaining group games against Iran on Sunday and New Zealand on June 26, according to The Athletic.
Belgium's Opener Left More Questions Than Answers
Belgium opened their 2026 World Cup campaign on June 16 with a 1-1 draw against Egypt. They were rescued by a Mohamed Hany own goal in the second half. Doku started and played 86 minutes. His numbers were modest: zero goals, zero assists, one chance created, one completed dribble, and five fouls won, according to data from Reuters and The Athletic.
Those five fouls won were the most by any player in the match. They show how much opposition defenders focused on stopping Doku. Analysts say his "dribbling gravity" — the way defenders collapse toward him — creates space for teammates. Without him, Belgium's attack becomes more predictable. That is why his potential absence worries so many inside the camp.
Asloum Fires Back: "A Baby Is Life-Defining"
Former Olympic boxer Brahim Asloum pushed back hard against Pierron's criticism. He argued that the birth of a child is a "life-defining" moment that no sports result can match. His comments were widely shared and drew support from fans, family advocates, and men's rights groups who said the backlash proved how much attitudes toward fatherhood have shifted.
The debate has split along clear lines. One side argues that representing a nation at a World Cup is a once-in-four-years duty that must come first. The other says that missing a child's birth can cause lasting harm — and that a happy, supported player performs better on the pitch. Modern coaches, including England's Gareth Southgate during the 2018 World Cup, have sided with the latter view. Southgate let Fabian Delph leave the Russia squad for the birth of his third child, and Delph returned in time for the quarterfinals.
Norway's Østigård Watched His Baby's Birth by Video Link
Doku is not the only player at the 2026 World Cup navigating a birth. Norway defender Leo Østigård followed the birth of his first child by video link while staying with the squad, according to Head Topics. His teammate Erling Haaland reportedly offered long-distance support. Østigård's choice shows that players are handling the same dilemma in very different ways.
Doku has been clear that he sees his situation differently. "Football is my life, but this is a life-defining moment," he said. He frames the final call as his own personal priority, shaped by what the Belgian Football Association decides to support. Belgium sits on just one point after their opener. How the team fares against Iran on Sunday may determine whether the Doku paternity debate stays a story — or fades into the background of a successful run.
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