"Absolutely Never"—Canada's Marsch Fires Bold Warning Shot at USMNT Before Gold Cup Clash

Jesse Marsch has secured complete dedication and trust from his Canadian men's national soccer team as they approach the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, which represents their final competitive matches before the FIFA World Cup comes to North America next year. 

Some players have made significant personal sacrifices, such as Celtic defender Alistair Johnston, who committed to joining the Gold Cup squad immediately following his honeymoon, while others like Inter Milan's Tajon Buchanan have prioritized the tournament over potential opportunities at the FIFA Club World Cup. 

This dedication positions the 30th-ranked Canadian team with a strong opportunity to claim their first championship since the 2000 Concacaf Gold Cup, when they became the only nation besides the United States or Mexico to ever secure the prestigious trophy. 

The enthusiasm and commitment demonstrated by the Canadian players stands in sharp contrast to the situation with the U.S. men's national team, where star player Christian Pulisic indicated a preference for participating in summer friendlies while skipping the Gold Cup, much to head coach Mauricio Pochettino's frustration. 

Marsch, however, remains unfazed by these comparisons, despite his background making him a previous frontrunner for the U.S. coaching position on multiple occasions. 

"First, there's some dialogue like I'm addressing the U.S. team. That's not true at all. I want to make it clear – I don't care about the U.S. team, and I never want to coach the U.S. national team. I'm making that clear right now," Marsch said. "I was just talking about our team."

"[The Canadian] team believes in what's being created, because they're being rewarded for it, and they're totally engaged by the whole experience."

With Jonathan David and Derek Cornelius leading the squad, Canada enters the Gold Cup with momentum after recently winning the Canadian Shield Invitational Tournament by defeating 25th-ranked Ukraine 4–2 and battling to a goalless draw against reigning AFCON champions Ivory Coast in Toronto. 

The team now heads to Vancouver to begin their Gold Cup group stage against Honduras on Tuesday, before traveling to Houston for their remaining group matches against Curaçao and El Salvador.

"Everybody knows how important this summer is and what it means for [the 2026 World Cup]. I've explained my feelings about this tournament to the team over the last months, but I didn't really have to," Marsch added. "They all said, 'We're coming, we want to win it.' That's a big statement, but that's how they feel. I'm glad I coach a team that feels that way."