Belgium's Jeremy Doku under fire at World Cup over unexpected controversy

The phrase “touch grass” generally makes me cringe, but it was popularized because of instances like this. For those living under a rock, the 2026 FIFA men’s World Cup is currently underway across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Belgium is making its fourth consecutive appearance in the tournament, and it could go any which way for the Red Devils.

In 2018, they secured an all-time best third-place finish, but in 2022, they failed to advance out of the group stage. Should Belgium reach the quarterfinal, winger Jeremy Doku may not be available. The Manchester City star previously disclosed to reporters that his wife, Shireen, is due to give birth to their first child in the second week of July.

“It ​depends on when it happens, but it’s my first child, so I ‌would ⁠definitely want to be there,” Doku said, per Reuters. “If you ask me what I want, my answer is that nobody wants to miss the birth of their first child. But I also ​know that football ​involves many ⁠other considerations.

I know the federation supports its players and understands their situations. We’ll see what we ​can do.”Somehow, some way, Doku came under fire for his entirely humane, logical stance.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JUNE 15: Jeremy Doku of Belgium looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G match between Belgium and Egypt at Seattle Stadium on June 15, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)The most prominent critic has been L’Equipe channel presenter France Pierron. Translating to English, The Athletic’s Colin Millar relayed that Pierron said, in part, “You are not going to cut an umbilical cord; you can’t miss a World Cup.”

The public backlash resulted in Pierron eventually released a statement on social media, in which she explained that she “was expressing a personal opinion” and apologized if her comments “shocked, hurt, or wounded some of you.” “My intention has never been to minimize the place or role of fathers with their partner and their child,” she wrote