Klopp walks out of interview after being asked about Schweinsteiger's 'African football' remarks

Jürgen Klopp cut short an interview in New York on Wednesday after being pressed by Deutsche Welle to comment on Bastian Schweinsteiger’s controversial remarks about Ivory Coast’s style of play at the 2026 World Cup.

Schweinsteiger, working as a pundit for German broadcaster ARD ahead of Germany’s group-stage match against Ivory Coast last weekend, had described the African side as playing “a bit African football, a bit unorthodox, a bit wild, a bit perhaps also not so conditioned by tactics. We have to be prepared for it to be unpredictable.” The comments drew widespread criticism.

Klopp, who is covering the tournament for broadcaster Magenta, appeared visibly uncomfortable when the subject was raised in a media huddle. He declined to engage directly, saying: “Now you want to carry on the subject. No, no, I have no chance. I have no chance to answer this question. Everybody likes it so you bring me in this situation. It’s not my job that everybody likes it, but this is a serious subject, and I don’t even know what is appropriate to say. For African people it’s one thing, for other people it’s another thing, and I’m not here.”

The former Liverpool manager admitted he had considered himself fortunate to have avoided the question until that moment. Before leaving, he delivered a pointed parting remark to the journalist: “Thank God, I thought, nobody asked me about that. You found a moment. And surprisingly, you are German. That surprised me so much.”

The backdrop to the exchange is Germany’s 2-1 comeback victory over Ivory Coast last weekend. Franck Kessie had given the Ivorians a deserved first-half lead, but Denis Undav scored twice for Julian Nagelsmann’s side — his second arriving deep into stoppage time — to seal the win and send Germany into the knockout stages.

Germany have since secured top spot in their group and face Ecuador on Thursday, while Ecuador must win to stay alive in the competition after a defeat to Ivory Coast and a goalless draw against Curacao.