Canada is rolling into St. Paul on Tuesday for a friendly against the U.S. and let me tell you, they are not just there for a casual kickabout. Their American coach, Jesse Marsch, is making it crystal clear: this program is absolutely gunning for CONCACAF supremacy, and he is not letting anyone forget their recent surge.
Canada’s Making Noise, And They’ve Got the Receipts
Marsch knows how the region still sees things. He said, “Institutionally, CONCACAF still looks at this as a region that’s about Mexico, or U.S. and Mexico, probably in that order right now.” But his Canada squad? They are not having it. Marsch is demanding respect, stating, “We need to continue to establish ourselves and show we are also part of this mix and we are also another dominant program in this region.” And honestly, they have earned the right to talk. Remember 2022 World Cup qualifying? Canada finished atop the whole thing. And then, two years later in Copa América, the U.S. and Mexico stumbled out in the group stage, while Canada went all the way to the semifinals! Marsch put it plainly on Monday, “We want to be the beacon of the region, and we believe we can be.” Talk about a statement! This rivalry used to be totally one-sided for the U.S., but Canada has won the last two encounters, going 3-2-2 over the past seven meetings. Canadian goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair sees it, too. “A lot of people in the U.S. talk about Mexico being their biggest rivalry,” he said, “but we know we feel like we’re in that conversation, as well.” He is not wrong, is he?
Rankings, Grudges, and Marsch’s “No Grudge” Grudge
Sure, all three CONCACAF powers bowed out of the last World Cup in the Round of 16. But while Mexico sits at #10 and the U.S. at #16 in FIFA’s rankings, Canada is right there at #27, just one spot off their highest ever ranking. Canadian forward Tani Oluwaseyi perfectly summed up the shift: “For so long, [the U.S.] and Mexico have always been the big dogs in this region, and now we feel like we can impose ourselves and take that top crown.” This Tuesday’s match might be “largely inconsequential” in the grand scheme, with up to 11 subs allowed, meaning it could get a bit disjointed. But you know it still carries major weight for the players and, especially, for Marsch. Remember back in 2023, when he was pretty vocal about how he was treated during the U.S. job pursuit, only for Gregg Berhalter to get rehired? When asked if he still holds a grudge, Marsch played it cool. “There’s definitely not a grudge,” he said. “People want to take it that way, which is fine. I don’t mind. I don’t really care what people think too much, right? You learn in this job that everyone’s going to try to pretend like they know you, but obviously I’m also making polarized statements at times.” The Wisconsin-born, Princeton-educated coach, who has been with Canada for 2½ years, is an American leading Canada, and he is proud of it, even if it means speaking his mind.
This Tuesday’s friendly, even with its exhibition vibe, is another chance for Canada to flex on the region. The U.S. better be ready, because Marsch and his squad are not just playing for fun. They are playing to reshape CONCACAF, one game at a time.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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