Jesse Marsch Declares Canada's World Cup Dreams Will Eclipse Blue Jays' Historic Championship Chase
Jesse Marsch, head coach of Canada's men's national soccer team, witnessed the nationwide excitement surrounding the Toronto Blue Jays' World Series journey and believes the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup could generate even greater enthusiasm.
From his residence in Tuscany, Italy, it requires something truly remarkable to wake Marsch during the overnight hours. Typically, this only occurs when he's analyzing soccer matches, but the Blue Jays' advancement to Game 7 of the World Series completely captivated him.
Marsch joined 51 million viewers globally who watched the championship series, which concluded with a devastating loss for Canada's only Major League Baseball franchise.
"Throughout my time residing in Europe, I've only risen in the early morning hours to view football—soccer games—until this year's World Series," Marsch stated on Thursday.
"I became a Blue Jays supporter, perhaps not to the extent of the rest of Toronto or Canada, but this marked the first occasion for a different sport that I was waking up during the night because I caught that same enthusiasm."
Throughout Canada, the Blue Jays dominated attention. During Game 7, 14 million viewers or 45% of all Canadians watched, making it one of the most-viewed sporting events in the country's broadcasting history.
The nationwide focus on the Blue Jays also provided Marsch with additional insight into what might unfold during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where Canada could potentially capture the nation's sporting passion.
"I'm confident that we will achieve even greater impact. I'm certain that hosting the World Cup at home in Canada will surpass even the World Series," he continued. "I can assure you that this is precisely what our national team represents. It will energize this entire nation."
Success Is Essential
While Canadians have consistently supported various sports teams, few achieve the nationwide following that accompanies Toronto's franchises competing in American professional leagues.
In 2019, the Toronto Raptors established television audience records. Watch parties occurred nationwide as they pursued their organization's inaugural NBA Championship. The Blue Jays elevated the excitement further during their first World Series appearance since capturing consecutive championships in 1992 and 1993.
Although the concept of fans beyond Toronto supporting a professional team might appear unusual, it has become a fundamental aspect of Canadian sports culture. However, this phenomenon only reaches its peak during extraordinary playoff runs.
The streets of Toronto will never be the same! 🤯🏆
On this day (June 17, 2019) the @Raptors had their NBA Championship parade! pic.twitter.com/lspqdEesoX
In contrast, the national team and World Cup present a different challenge. Many Canadians maintain connections to ancestral countries they have historically supported during World Cup competitions, while others remain skeptical about the Canadian team's development, creating obstacles to matching the Blue Jays' level of excitement.
Nevertheless, the opportunity exists, and the Canadian team understands that achieving an outstanding performance, including the country's first World Cup victories, would be necessary to unite millions of supporters, similar to the 2025 Blue Jays and 2019 Raptors.
"I'm absolutely certain this team will be prepared to truly create history and accomplish something extraordinary," Marsch declared. "If you haven't joined us yet and aren't feeling the anticipation, now is the moment. It's time to become part of this...It's time to recognize that a transformation is underway."
Canada will face Ecuador and Venezuela during the November international break to conclude their 2025 calendar, with the home fixture against Ecuador in Toronto approaching a sellout. Shortly afterward, Canada will learn its World Cup group assignments at the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw scheduled for December 5 in Washington D.C.