Doku breaks his silence and reveals the real reason for his absence from Iran

The Belgian Football Association has announced that Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku will not take part in Sunday night’s match against Iran at the Sophie Stadium in Los Angeles. Because he was suffering from an acute respiratory infection for several days.

According to French website Foot Mercato, Doku is following the controversy surrounding his absence with “extreme sadness and indignation”, completely denying the widely circulated rumors that he left to attend the birth of his son.

Journalist Frans Pieron caused controversy with a bold statement in which he attributed the Belgian star’s absence to family reasons, prompting those close to the player to quickly deny this information and confirm that only health reasons prevented his participation.

Doku’s absence is a painful blow for Belgium, who are looking to strengthen their position in the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage, especially after the coach relied on his speed and technical ability on the wings to penetrate opposition defences.

The Belgian federation has not set a date for the footballer’s return to group training, pending the improvement of his health and the necessary medical examination before the next crucial game.