Belgium winger Jeremy Doku has welcomed the birth of his son, describing the arrival as "one of the greatest blessings" in his life as he prepares to rejoin his national team at the World Cup.

Belgium’s football federation confirmed on Monday that Doku, who plays for Manchester City, had traveled to be with his wife for the birth of their son, named Praise. The 22-year-old player has since returned to the team ahead of Belgium’s final group stage match against New Zealand.

In an Instagram message posted on Tuesday, Doku expressed his gratitude for the well-wishes from fans and teammates. He wrote that both his wife, Shireen, and baby Praise were doing well, adding that his heart was "full of gratitude" for the support he received. He thanked the team for their backing and signaled his readiness to refocus on the competition.

Belgium currently sits third in Group G and will face New Zealand in Vancouver this Friday, with kickoff scheduled for 8 p.m. local time (4 a.m. UK time Saturday).