Doku shares health scare during World Cup and baby news

Belgium winger Jeremy Doku has opened up about a serious health issue he faced during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He coughed blood and felt severe chest pain before he left the team’s camp to welcome his first child.

Doku, who plays for Manchester City, shared his story in a video on his YouTube channel on Saturday. He called that time one of the hardest moments of his career.

His health problems started after Belgium’s game against Tunisia. He developed a bad cough even after recovering from a previous illness. “I started coughing every second. I couldn’t say a word without coughing,” he explained.

The 24-year-old recalled feeling intense chest pain after going to church with his teammates. “Suddenly, here in my chest, I felt a pain that I’ve never felt before. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t breathe in.”

Even after getting treatment from Belgium’s team doctor and traveling with the squad to the United States, Doku said his health got worse. “I couldn’t train properly that week. I was quickly tired and my coughing was still not gone. I even started coughing blood at one point.”

Doku had a serious episode that made him seek emergency medical help early one morning. “I went to the emergency. We did all the tests and we saw there was liquid in my lungs or something. I asked, ‘How did that happen?’ The doctor said it was uncommon.”

He continued taking medication but the pain made it hard for him to train or play well. “I spoke to the coach and told him, ‘Impossible. I cannot even run without feeling a heavy pain.'”

While facing this health scare, Doku received life-changing news. Belgium’s team manager woke him at 6 a.m. to tell him his wife was in labor weeks before her due date. “The team manager told me, ‘Your wife, her water broke.’ I was shocked because she wasn’t due until July.”

Doku quickly decided to go back to London, saying he was not fit to play anyway. “I told them, ‘Guys, I’m not able to play either way, so I’m going to go back to see my son.’ They didn’t even think twice.”

The winger’s first son is named Praise. He described the timing of the birth as “divine.” Reflecting on becoming a father, Doku mentioned he prepared by watching YouTube videos and getting advice from family before going to the hospital.

“I was first looking on YouTube to see how I could help my wife during labor. I didn’t want to get there and not know what to do. I was watching videos, asking my dad and other people.”

He praised his wife for her strength during labor and said meeting his son was emotional. “Seeing him, I was like, ‘He’s so little, so cute.’ It’s strange because my wife already had that connection with him, but for me it was different.”

Doku’s decision to leave Belgium’s World Cup camp for the birth of his son attracted a lot of attention but received full support from the Belgian Football Federation. He returned in time for Belgium’s final group-stage match and helped the team reach the quarter-finals, where they lost to Spain.