Belgium’s 2026 World Cup ended in tears on 11 July as Jeremy Doku was once again invisible in a 2-1 quarter-final loss to Spain. The Manchester City winger, who started despite zero goal contributions in the group stage, was rated just 4/10 by Belgian outlet 7sur7. His poor tournament followed a strong club run, leaving fans and pundits furious.
What happened against Spain?
Doku played the full 90 minutes in Philadelphia but made no meaningful impact. The media hammered his positioning, calling him out for Spain’s first goal. His stats looked mixed: five successful dribbles (most on the team), 79% pass accuracy, and 11 ground duels won. Yet he also failed five dribble attempts, made zero shots, and committed three fouls. Fotmob’s xA figure sat at a paltry 0.09.
Why Belgian media turned on Doku
Belgian press had high hopes for Doku, the only remaining star from the nation’s “golden generation.” But his tournament was a disaster. 7sur7’s review was brutal: “Unfortunately, his performance throughout the tournament was disappointing. He certainly wasn’t lacking in effort, but his dribbling skills once again proved fruitless.” The 24-year-old’s positioning errors and lack of end product sealed his fate in the eyes of critics.
What comes next for Jeremy Doku?
The focus now shifts to Manchester City’s 2026-27 season. Doku must shake off this World Cup flop and rediscover the form that saw him shine for Pep Guardiola’s side. With the Euros looming, Belgium’s rebuild will depend on players stepping up—but for now, Doku’s reputation has taken a serious hit. City’s next fixture could be his chance to silence the doubters.