Manchester City and Belgium winger Jérémy Doku has revealed that he coughed blood and suffered severe chest pain during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, describing the illness as one of the toughest experiences of his football career.
Doku opened up about the health scare after previously missing Belgium’s group-stage match against Iran due to what team officials initially described as a respiratory illness. At the time, Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia said the winger was not medically fit to play, while the Belgian Football Federation disclosed that he had been receiving treatment before being cleared to travel briefly for the birth of his first child.
Reflecting on the ordeal, the 24-year-old said his condition deteriorated during the tournament, with persistent chest pain and episodes of coughing up blood. Despite the severity of the symptoms, he remained determined to recover and return to action for Belgium.
Doku said the illness left him struggling physically and mentally, forcing him to miss training sessions and delaying his return to full fitness. He described the experience as frightening, adding that it put his health into perspective despite the importance of the World Cup.
The Manchester City forward eventually returned to Belgium’s squad later in the tournament after recovering sufficiently, although head coach Garcia admitted the winger was not ready to play a full 90 minutes because he had missed a week of training while recovering from illness.
Doku’s revelation sheds new light on the respiratory illness that sidelined him during the competition. At the time, Belgian officials declined to disclose the exact nature of his condition, saying only that he was medically unfit for selection.
The Belgian international has since resumed club duties with Manchester City ahead of the new season and said he is now fully recovered. His account highlights the physical demands elite footballers face and the importance of prioritising players’ health, even during major international tournaments.
