Why isn’t Jeremy Doku starting for Belgium against the USMNT at the 2026 World Cup?

Belgium faces the USMNT on Monday, July 6th, at Seattle Stadium in the 2026 World Cup Round of 16, with a quarterfinal spot on the line. Jeremy Doku‘s absence from the starting lineup, however, has raised questions among fans.

Doku has been dropped from the starting XI by head coach Rudi Garcia following a series of underwhelming performances during the tournament. The Manchester City winger will begin the match on the bench, waiting for his opportunity if called upon.

Garcia addressed Doku’s situation at his pre-match press conference, leaving little ambiguity about the decision. “We played without Jeremy in the three group stage matches,” the coach noted, referencing his starts against Egypt and in the 5-1 win over New Zealand.

The Belgian boss also pointed to the disruptions that affected Doku’s buildup to the tournament, including his temporary departure from camp for the birth of his son. “Jeremy wasn’t always available during our preparations. When a player isn’t at their best, they can experience a dip afterward. That’s what happened,” Garcia said.

Doku and a troubled World Cup

Heading into the tournament, Doku was one of Belgium’s most exciting players to watch, his explosiveness and dribbling ability having established him as a key piece at Manchester City. But a series of off-field disruptions have prevented him from finding anywhere near his best form.

His preparation was compromised from the start by a respiratory illness that hampered his buildup in the weeks before the tournament. Then came the birth of his first child in the middle of the competition, which required a lightning-fast trip to London and cost him the game against Iran.

The accumulated disruptions have shown up clearly in his numbers on the field. Of 13 attempted dribbles across the three matches he started, Doku completed just six, far below the standard expected of him. A single completed dribble against Senegal in the Round of 32 proved to be the tipping point, prompting Garcia to drop him from the starting lineup for the first time at this World Cup.