(AFP) – Canadian men’s football coach Jesse Marsch decried US President Donald Trump’s “ridiculous rhetoric about Canada being the 51st state,” calling it insulting to a loyal ally. Marsch, a 51-year-old American who took over as Canada coach in 2024, spoke to reporters on Wednesday at a media day for the CONCACAF Nations League finals next month, and said Trump’s animosity toward Canada had only invigorated his team.
“If I have one message to our president, it’s lay off the ridiculous rhetoric about Canada being the 51st state,” Marsch said. “As an American, I’m ashamed of the arrogance and disregard that we’ve shown one of our historically oldest, strongest and most loyal allies.”
Marsch said that he had developed a deep appreciation for Canadian culture and society since taking his current job. “Canada is a strong, independent nation that is deep-rooted in decency,” he said. “And it’s a place that values high ethics and respect, unlike the polarized, disrespectful and often now hateful climate that is in the US. It’s a place that I’ve learned as the national team coach where people really believe that their differences make them stronger.”
Marsch said his team includes a wealth of first- and second-generation Canadians who are “uniquely and incredibly proud to be Canadian and to represent their country.” Marsch, who guided Canada to a fourth-placed finish at the Copa America last year, said that amid Trump’s goading comments — and his stated plans to implement tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico — “these international tournaments for Canada mean something different now.”
Tensions were evident last week when Canada beat the United States 3-2 in overtime to win the Four Nations Face-Off ice hockey tournament in a hard-hitting final that was a rematch of a round-robin clash that produced three fights in nine seconds and saw the US national anthem booed before the game.
“One thing is for sure,” Marsch said, “when I look forward to a month from now I know that this will fuel our team, the mentality and will that we have to play for our country, the desire to go after this tournament in every way and to show on and off the pitch exactly what Canadian character is.”
Marsch was joined by Mexico coach Javier Aguirre and Panama coach Thomas Christiansen at the press event at SoFi Stadium, where the Nations League finals will be held March 20-23. The United States was represented by USA Soccer vice president Oguchi Onyewu, who declined to be drawn into any political conversation.
Aguirre also said he preferred to “focus on the sporting issue,” although he admitted that he couldn’t go along with Trump’s decree that the Gulf of Mexico be called the Gulf of America. “For me, it’s the Gulf of Mexico, obviously,” he said. Aguirre said that as the son of immigrants he identified with Mexicans who had moved north in search of “the American dream.” “It is not easy to leave your country in search of a better life for your own,” he said.
© 2024 AFP
