Belgium winger Jeremy Doku has become a father for the first time, welcoming his son Praise during the ongoing World Cup tournament.
The personal milestone occurred while the player was part of the Belgian national squad, prompting a brief departure from the team camp.
Doku received confirmation that the birth was imminent just before Belgium's scheduled match against Iran.
Following consultations with the team's medical staff, he was granted permission to fly to London to be present for the delivery.
The clearance allowed him to balance his professional commitments with the immediate family event.
The situation echoes previous discussions around player availability during major tournaments.