‘I started coughing blood’ — Doku opens up on World Cup illness before son’s birth
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Belgium winger Jeremy Doku has disclosed that he coughed blood and suffered severe chest pain during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, forcing him to seek emergency medical treatment before eventually leaving the national team camp for the birth of his first child.
The Manchester City star shared the details in a video posted on his YouTube channel on Saturday, describing the period as one of the most difficult experiences of his career.
Doku explained that the health problems began after Belgium’s match against Tunisia when he developed a persistent cough despite recovering from an earlier illness.
“I started coughing every second. I couldn’t say a word without coughing,” he said.
The 24-year-old added that his condition worsened after attending church with the team, when he suddenly experienced intense pain in his chest.
“Suddenly, here in my chest, I felt a pain that I’ve never felt before. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t breathe in.”
Although Belgium’s medical team gave him medication and he travelled with the squad to the United States, Doku said he struggled to train and remained physically unfit.
“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,” he revealed.
The winger said another episode later forced him to visit the emergency room, where doctors discovered fluid in his lungs.
“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.”
According to Doku, the illness left him unable to train or compete at the required level.
“I spoke to the coach and told him, ‘Impossible. I cannot even run without feeling a heavy pain.’”
Amid the health scare, Doku received unexpected news when Belgium’s team manager informed him early one morning that his wife had gone into labour weeks before her expected due date.
“The team manager told me, ‘Your wife, her water broke.’ I was shocked because she wasn’t due until July.”
Realising he was not fit enough to play, Doku decided to leave the camp and return to London to be with his family.
“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 Belgian international later welcomed his first child, a son named Praise, describing the timing of the birth as “divine”.
Doku also revealed that he prepared for fatherhood by watching YouTube videos and seeking advice from relatives so he could better support his wife during labour.
Reflecting on the experience, he said meeting his son for the first time was deeply 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.
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