Why Jeremy Doku Was Left Out of Belgium's Squad vs Iran — World Cup Update

Jeremy Doku was omitted from Belgium’s matchday squad for their FIFA World Cup Group G game against Iran at SoFi Stadium on 21 June after suffering a flare-up of a respiratory infection, a decision the Belgian medical staff made as a precaution to protect the winger’s longer-term availability in the tournament. The match ended 0-0, and the absence of Doku — widely regarded as one of Belgium’s most dangerous attacking players — was felt in the attacking group that faces a tight set of fixtures in the group stage.

Why it matters

Doku’s omission matters because he played 86 minutes in Belgium’s opening 1-1 draw with Egypt and is one of coach Rudi Garcia’s primary attacking outlets. With Group G reportedly locked in a four-way tie after the opening round of fixtures, managing key players’ health and workload is crucial. The Belgian medical team has reportedly placed Doku on a course of antibiotics and are aiming to preserve him for the rest of the group stage rather than risk longer-term complications by forcing him into immediate action.

What the medical update says

According to the World Soccer Talk report, Belgium’s medical camp identified a recurring respiratory infection that flared up while the squad were in Los Angeles. The winger experienced breathing difficulties and a severe cold that worsened after the team’s final training session in California, prompting technical staff to remove him from selection and start him on antibiotics.

Belgium’s sports director Vincent Mannaert is quoted in the report as saying the staff prefer to rest Doku now and aim for him to be available for the final group match in Vancouver on 26 June, rather than risk his condition worsening. The decision was therefore described as precautionary and designed to safeguard his availability for the rest of the tournament.

Match context and immediate implications

Belgium’s game against Iran finished 0-0 (kickoff at 19:00 UTC on 21 June, per supplied match data). The absence of Doku meant coach Rudi Garcia had to adjust his attacking selection for the fixture at SoFi Stadium. With the group described as tightly balanced after the first round of matches, every selection decision carries added weight for how Belgium approach the remaining fixtures.

The report says the medical team are optimistic that around a week’s rest and clinical recovery will bring Doku back into contention for the game scheduled in Vancouver on 26 June. That timeline, if it holds, would allow Belgium to reintroduce one of their most explosive wide players for the final group match.

Key points

• Jeremy Doku was omitted from Belgium’s matchday squad vs Iran on 21 June.
• Match result (from match data): Belgium 0-0 Iran.
• Reason given in the report: a recurring respiratory infection that worsened during the stay in Los Angeles.
• Doku played 86 minutes in Belgium’s 1-1 opening draw with Egypt.
• Belgium have put Doku on a course of antibiotics and removed him from selection as a precaution.
• Medical staff are aiming for Doku to be fit for the final group match in Vancouver on 26 June, according to the report and a quote from sports director Vincent Mannaert.

What this means for Belgium and Doku

In the short term, Belgium lose one of their most direct attacking threats for the Iran game, which may change tactical emphasis or personnel choices for that fixture. The decision to prioritise rest and medical treatment suggests staff are thinking about the remainder of the group stage and want to avoid any risk of prolonged respiratory issues that could compromise Doku’s tournament.

For Doku personally, the enforced rest is intended to ensure he returns in full fitness rather than risk recurring symptoms. The club and national medical teams will monitor his recovery over the next week, with the June 26 match in Vancouver currently pencilled in as the earliest realistic return date in the report.

What happens next

Belgium will continue with their tournament schedule and assess Doku’s recovery in the coming days. The medical team’s plan — rest and a course of antibiotics — sets a target of the final group match on 26 June for his return, but any change to that plan would depend on how his condition responds to treatment and on further assessments by the staff.

Fans should expect official line-ups and injury updates from Belgium’s staff ahead of future matches; this report is based on the medical update and comments reported by World Soccer Talk and the confirmed 0-0 result from the supplied match data for the Iran game.