World Cup or fatherhood? Doku faces the ultimate dilemma on Father's Day

Jeremy Doku could soon face the most difficult decision of his life - one that has nothing to do with football.

The Belgian winger has revealed that he is prepared to temporarily leave his country's World Cup camp if necessary in order to be present for the birth of his first child, a stance that has sparked debate both within and beyond the football world.

Doku's wife, Shireen, is expected to give birth during the second week of July, a period that coincides with the quarter-final stage of the tournament. Should Belgium still be competing, the Manchester City star admits he would find it impossible to ignore such a life-changing moment.

"It's my first child, so I would definitely want to be there," Doku said earlier this week.

The 24-year-old acknowledged that the situation is complicated and that international football comes with responsibilities to teammates, coaches and an entire nation. Nevertheless, he made it clear where his priorities lie.

"If you ask me what I want, my answer is that nobody wants to miss the birth of their first child," he explained. "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."

What might have been viewed as a personal family matter quickly evolved into a wider public debate.

French television presenter France Pierron criticised Doku's position, arguing that leaving a World Cup squad during the knockout stages would be unthinkable.

Calling the prospect a "disgusting moment" for a national team, Pierron suggested that fathers play only a limited role during childbirth and questioned whether any player should consider missing a World Cup match for such a reason.

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Her comments immediately triggered a backlash. Former boxing world champion Brahim Asloum was among those who defended Doku, offering a simple response that resonated with many supporters.

"A baby is your entire life," Asloum said. "A World Cup is over when it is over."

As the debate intensified, Pierron later issued a public apology, insisting she never intended to diminish the role of fathers or undermine the importance of family.

For Doku, however, the discussion may ultimately prove irrelevant.

Should Belgium reach the latter stages of the tournament, he could soon find himself choosing between a quarter-final appearance on football's biggest stage and witnessing the birth of his first child - a dilemma few players ever encounter.

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Adding another twist to the story, the Belgian Football Association announced on Saturday that Doku will miss Belgium's upcoming match against Iran due to illness. Whether he returns in time to help Rudi Garcia's side progress deep into the tournament remains to be seen.

But one thing is already certain: if Belgium do make a long World Cup run, the Manchester City winger may soon be forced to choose between representing his country and welcoming a new member of his family.

WORLD CUP - GROUP STAGE (ROUND 2)

Group G

Sunday 21.06.

22.00: (1.48) Belgium (4.20) Iran (7.25)

Monday 22.06.

04.00: (6.00) New Zealand (3.60) Egypt (1.67)

***odds are subject to change***