Doku’s push to witness his child’s birth tests World Cup priorities

Belgian winger Jeremy Doku said he hopes to be at the birth of his first child during the World Cup, sparking a backlash the piece argues is overblown. It asserts that being present for childbirth is a unique, deeply personal moment and that sport, while important, is a job that doesn’t demand an absence from such life events. The article acknowledges there are broader debates about athletes missing games for family moments but stresses that the decision is ultimately up to Doku and his partner, not the public consensus.