A personal milestone on the world stage
Amadou Onana, the Belgian midfielder who goes by the nickname Doku, finds himself at a crossroads as the 2026 World Cup approaches. His wife is expected to give birth around the same time his team is slated to play a quarter‑final match, forcing the player to weigh a once‑in‑a‑lifetime family moment against a career‑defining fixture.
Onana has spoken openly about his wish to be present for the birth, while also acknowledging the rigorous demands placed on elite footballers. His dilemma reflects a growing conversation about how professional athletes navigate personal milestones that clash with tightly scheduled competitions.
The Professional Footballers' Association has voiced support for players who wish to prioritise family events, emphasising that such moments are fundamental to human development. Parallel to this, The Fatherhood Institute has likened the pressures on modern footballers to those of gladiators in the Colosseum, arguing for a more humane approach that recognises the importance of paternal involvement.
FIFA’s current regulations guarantee a minimum of 14 weeks of paid maternity leave for female players, yet they remain silent on paternity leave for men. This gap leaves male athletes to negotiate flexible arrangements with clubs and governing bodies, often relying on informal agreements rather than codified entitlements.
The issue is not new. Fabian Delph left England’s World Cup camp in 2018 to be with his wife during childbirth, while David Silva missed two Manchester City matches the same year when his son arrived prematurely. Goalkeeper David de Gea took extended paternity leave in 2021 as his partner gave birth amid the Covid‑19 pandemic. More recently, Norway defender Leo Ostigard and Wolverhampton midfielder Ruben Neves watched the births of their children via FaceTime and phone, respectively, due to travel restrictions.
The evolving landscape of player welfare
Ollie Watkins, an England striker, has publicly backed Onana’s stance, stressing that the birth of a first child is an event that should not be compromised. Such endorsements illustrate a shift in player culture, where teammates increasingly champion each other’s right to balance sport with family. As clubs and federations observe the growing number of players opting for family over fixtures, there is mounting pressure to formalise supportive policies. Whether through dedicated paternity leave clauses or flexible scheduling, the push for change is gaining momentum, suggesting that the next World Cup may see a different balance between sport and parenthood.