Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has suggested he could remain involved in South African football after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, hinting at a possible reduced role that would allow him to balance professional commitments with family life in Belgium.
The 74-year-old, who has been in charge of South Africa since 2021, has previously indicated that the tournament would mark the end of his long coaching career.
However, ahead of Bafana’s Round of 32 clash with Canada, Broos revealed that retirement may not be as clear-cut as once expected.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference, the experienced Belgian coach admitted that stepping away completely from football is still difficult to imagine, given his long-standing passion for the game and continued energy for the job.
“Months ago I said, ‘Yeah, this has to be finished now. I’m 74 and it has been enough’,” Broos said. “But the closer the end comes, the more you start thinking about it. So we will see.
“For the moment, I still stay with my decision. But at the other side I always said that it’s not to go home and sit on my couch and drink coffee. I have too much energy, still too much energy.
“So maybe, maybe we can find something in South Africa that I have to be less there, that I can be more with my family and then we will see if it’s possible.”
Broos also opened up about the emotional toll of being away from his family during his time with the national team, saying that distance from his grandchildren has been one of the most difficult aspects of the job.
However, he added that ongoing support from his family has played a key role in keeping him motivated throughout the World Cup campaign.
“They regularly send me WhatsApp clips of the moments they are looking at the game, celebrating like after South Korea,” he said.
“It makes me enormously happy and it gives me also energy to go on.”
The Belgian coach also shared a light-hearted moment involving his wife, who joked after South Africa’s victory over South Korea that he had been granted extra time at the tournament.
“I phoned my wife and she said, ‘Okay, you can stay another week, there is no problem,'” Broos laughed.
Broos’ comments come at a significant moment in his tenure, with South Africa on the verge of a historic knockout clash against co-hosts Canada in Los Angeles.
His leadership has been widely credited with transforming Bafana Bafana into a competitive international side.
Since taking charge in 2021, Broos has overseen a major revival, including guiding South Africa to a bronze medal at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
He has also become the longest-serving national team coach in Bafana history, surpassing Clive Barker’s previous record.
While he had earlier suggested the World Cup would be his final assignment in management, his latest remarks indicate that a full retirement may not be immediate.
Instead, Broos appears open to a hybrid arrangement that would keep him connected to South African football while reducing the demands of full-time coaching.
For now, his focus remains firmly on the tournament, but the possibility of an extended South African chapter beyond the World Cup is no longer off the table.
