Belgian winger Jérémy Doku returned to training on Wednesday, a day after reportedly leaving training early, as the team prepares for the World Cup opener against Egypt on Monday.
24-year-old Doku, who plays for Premier League club Manchester City, experienced breathing problems during a closed training session on Tuesday, according to Belgian newspaper HLN. Before the practice ended, Doku entered the indoor training facility of Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders as a precaution, the report said.
During the portion of Wednesday’s training session open to reporters, Doku was a full participant. Winger Alexis Saelemaekers said he believes the national team training staff can keep Doku in shape for the tournament.
“When Jérémy leaves the field, it is logical that there are immediate question marks,” Saelemaekers said in French. “But it’s nothing serious.”
Doku has represented Belgium at international level since 2020. During 2025 World Cup qualifying, Doku scored a goal in a 4–3 win over Wales. He scored two in a 7-0 win over Liechtenstein, a result that secured Belgium’s place at this year’s World Cup.
In 42 games for the Belgian national team, Doku scored seven goals.
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Central defender Zeno Debast was the only notable Belgian player absent from Wednesday’s expected training. The 22-year-old Debast injured his leg in May during a training with the Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon and is not expected to be available until later in the tournament.
Debast played 26 games for Belgium and was on the 2022 World Cup squad in Qatar.
Published on June 11, 2026
