South Africa's Broos shuts down Trump question and calls out Messi's VAR treatment at World Cup

Hugo Broos has rapidly established himself as the most outspoken coach at the 2026 World Cup, using his press conferences to shut down a question about Donald Trump, challenge the consistency of VAR decisions involving Lionel Messi, and tell his critics back home to “shut up.”

The 74-year-old Belgian, who guided South Africa to their first World Cup appearance since they hosted the tournament in 2010, has wasted little time in making his presence felt. After a 2-0 opening defeat to Mexico drew criticism from former South Africa players, Broos was characteristically blunt. “For those who still don’t know it, I do it my way,” he said. “I never listen to people who sometimes think that they are important enough to criticize the team. So when I’m going to see what they did before, I think it should be better that they shut up.”

At a press conference on Wednesday, a reporter asked Broos and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams to respond to Donald Trump’s baseless claims regarding a systematic killing of white farmers in South Africa. Broos’s reply was swift and deliberate: “I will answer that question” — followed immediately by — “We will not answer that question.”

He was considerably more forthcoming on the subject of VAR. South Africa midfielder Themba Zwane received a three-match suspension after a VAR review of his clash with Mexico’s Roberto Alvarado, while Messi’s tackle on Algeria captain Aissa Mandi passed without similar scrutiny. “I think there was not even a VAR with Messi,” Broos said. “I don’t want Messi to get a red card because that player has to be on the pitch… but, yeah, what is the difference here?”

A 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic on Thursday kept South Africa’s knockout-stage hopes alive — a first in the country’s World Cup history. Teboho Mokoena scored a late penalty to secure the point, and when asked if he felt relieved, Broos offered his trademark economy: “Why shouldn’t I be relieved?”

He then turned his attention to the Czechs’ approach, saying, “I think if you like football that you like more the game we played today than the game of Czechia,” before offering an equally unsparing verdict on the venue: “If I can be very honest, this is not a football stadium. It’s a nice stadium, fantastic stadium” — the sentence left pointedly unfinished.

Broos, who has announced he will step down at the tournament’s conclusion, is one of the oldest coaches ever to participate in a World Cup. Four decades in the game appear to have left him with little appetite for diplomatic evasion — and, so far, the tournament’s media corps has been the primary beneficiary.