Jesse Marsch is sticking up for Canada.
The Canadian men’s national team manager gave an impassioned plea to the United States government to stop referring to Canada as the 51st state and instead preached a message of unity and collaboration between the two neighbouring countries.
“These international tournaments for Canada mean something different now,” Marsch said at a media event in Los Angeles ahead of next month’s Concacaf Nations League Finals. “As an American, I’d like to address the 51st state discourse which I find unsettling and frankly insulting. Canada is a strong independent nation that is deep-rooted in decency. Really. And it’s a place that values high ethics and respect. Unlike the polarized, disrespectful and often now hate-fueled climate that’s in the U.S. Canada values a lot of fairness and unity. It’s a place that I’ve learned, as the national team coach, where people really believe that their differences make them stronger. And honestly, it’s one of the things I’ve enjoyed the most about our team is that they exemplify this as human beings and as a team.”
U.S. President Donald Trump has frequently made remarks in his first month in office about absorbing Canada as the 51st state and threatened to impose tariffs on Canadian goods shipped into the United States.
Marsch challenged those actions head-on on Wednesday.
“If I had 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, 51, is a native of Wisconsin who played 14 seasons in MLS and received two caps for the United States at the international level. He was hired as manager by Canada Soccer in May of last year after coaching in MLS and in Europe following his retirement as a player.
“I couldn’t be prouder to be the Canadian national team coach,” he said Wednesday. “I found a place that embodies for me the ideals and morals of what, not just football and a team is, but what life is. And that’s integrity, respect and the belief that good people can do great things together.”
The Concacaf Nations League Finals will take place from March 20-23 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Canada will face Mexico in one semifinal while the United States will play Panama. The winners will then meet in the championship match.
“One thing is for sure when I look forward to a month from now is I know that this will fuel our team,” Marsch said. “The mentality that we have, the will that we have to play for our country. The desire we have to go after this tournament in every way and to show on and off the pitch exactly what Canadian character is.”