SEATTLE (AP) 鈥� Belgium winger J茅r茅my Doku could miss matches later in the because of the impending birth of his first child.
Ahead of his team’s , Doku told outlets that his wife, Shireen, is expected to give birth to his son during the knockout phase of the World Cup, specifically in early July, around the rounds of 32 and 16.
The 24-year-old forward, who plays for club , would have to travel from Seattle to England to be there in time whenever Shireen goes into labor.
鈥淣o one wants to miss a birth,鈥� Doku told reporters. 鈥淢oreover, it is my first child. But I also know that there is a lot involved in football. In any case, the FA sympathizes with the players and our situations, so we will see what we can do.鈥�
Doku has represented Belgium since 2020. In World Cup qualifying in 2025, he scored in a 4-3 win over Wales. He added two more goals in a 7-0 victory over Liechtenstein, a result which clinched his team鈥檚 berth.
In 42 appearances for his country, Doku has scored seven goals.
His participation in the World Cup was briefly called into question . He was a full participant in all portions of practice leading up to Monday鈥檚 match that media could watch.
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