Canada’s head coach, Jesse Marsch, has rekindled tensions with the United States by revealing how he once implored American players to sing their national anthem. Marsch, the first American to lead Canada’s men’s soccer team, offered this insight as a motivational tool for his current squad ahead of their upcoming match.
Previously, Marsch served as an assistant coach for the USA during the 2010 World Cup. Drawing from these past experiences, he shared a personal story on Thursday, aimed at galvanizing his Canadian team before their debut game on Friday.
Reflecting on his journey with the Canadian team, Marsch expressed admiration for the unity and camaraderie he observed. “From the moment I joined this team, I was struck by their genuine affection for one another, their shared experiences, and the pride they take in representing their nation,” he remarked.
He continued to emphasize the profound sense of national pride among his players, stating, “Each of these players embodies the spirit of Canada. Their commitment to wearing the jersey, representing the country, and honoring the national anthem is truly remarkable.”
‘Every one of these boys is incredibly Canadian and the pride they have in putting on the jersey, representing the country and hearing the national anthem.
Jesse Marsch hit out at his former USA players in a bid to motivate his Canadian stars
Canada will kick-start their 2026 World Cup campaign against Bosnia and Herzegovina
‘In the US sometimes we had to beg players to sing the national anthem. These guys [Canada stars] belt it out to the top of their lungs because they want to show the country how proud they are to be Canadians and to represent what Canada is.’
During his time as an assistant coach for the USA, Marsch worked with the likes of Landon Donovan, Tim Howard and Clint Dempsey at the World Cup in South Africa.
Canada will kick-start their 2026 World Cup campaign against Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Toronto Stadium on Friday afternoon.
‘We all know a home World Cup is special,’ he continued. ‘If you do this for a living, this is where you want to be. I came to Canada to lead them in a home World Cup; I wanted this responsibility. Nobody here is afraid of that.Â
‘Actually, this is why we’re doing it. Yeah, it’s responsibility, yeah, it’s pressure, but that’s what we want, it’s meaningful. I love sitting on that coach’s box when the stadium’s full, the pressure is on and everyone thinks you’re an idiot.’
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.Â
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.
Marsch claimed he used to ‘beg’ USA stars to sing the national anthem during his time with the squad back in 2010 (Pictured: The current USA squad at a recent training session)
Marsch was hired as an assistant to the United States men’s national team back in 2010
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Does singing the national anthem truly reflect a player’s pride and commitment to their country?
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.’