Canada head coach Jesse Marsch has ignited a new round of rivalry talk with the United States after saying he once had to “beg” American players to sing the national anthem. Marsch, the first American to take charge of Canada’s men’s national team, previously served as an assistant coach for the US during the 2010 World Cup. Speaking on Thursday ahead of Canada’s opener on Friday, the 52-year-old used that experience to motivate his current squad.
Canada’s anthem pride sets them apart
Reflecting on his time with Canada, Marsch said he had to quickly understand what it means to represent the country. He praised the bond within the team, saying he has always tried to build an environment where differences become a strength rather than a weakness. According to Marsch, he was struck from the start by how deeply connected the players were, how much they cared for one another, and how their different backgrounds were matched by shared experiences. He added that the squad’s pride in wearing the shirt and representing Canada is unmistakable.
Embracing the pressure of home soil
Marsch then drew a sharp contrast with his previous role in the US setup, saying that at times staff had to urge American players to sing the anthem, while Canada’s players “belt it out” at full volume to show their pride. During his stint with the US team in South Africa, he worked with stars including Landon Donovan, Tim Howard and Clint Dempsey. Canada begin their 2026 World Cup campaign on Friday afternoon against Bosnia and Herzegovina at Toronto Stadium.
Marsch leads Canada as USA aims high
Marsch became the first American ever to lead the Canadian national team following his appointment two years ago. Canada will start their tournament on Friday, before taking on Switzerland, on June 24, and Qatar, on June 18, in the weeks that follow. Meanwhile, the USA will also start their World Cup campaign on Friday afternoon against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Recently, head coach Mauricio Pochettino claimed that he believes the USA’s World Cup campaign can create the same hysteria that is gripping New York as the Knicks chase a first NBA championship in 50 years.
Knicks spark wild celebrations worldwide
Fans poured on to the streets of Manhattan earlier this week after the Knicks moved to within one win of a first title since 1973. Many of Pochettino’s players also lost their minds at their California base after New York’s stunning comeback win over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night. There were even more remarkable scenes in Argentina – Pochettino’s homeland – four years ago, when Lionel Messi led his nation to World Cup glory. Soccer has long struggled to captivate America like other sports but on the eve of the USMNT’s opening game against Paraguay in Los Angeles , the head coach was asked how his players can inspire the same hype. ‘I think it’s contagious and we need to play with passion, we need to win games – that’s very important… [we need] to make the fans feel proud about what they are seeing on the field,’ he said. ‘To create that emotional relationship and then you will do the rest – try to encourage the people to celebrate – but we need to win. The important thing is to win.’
