ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Canada coach Jesse Marsch said he holds "no grudge" against the United States after nearly landing the managerial post two years ago, but that the soccer rivalry between the two countries is "something big."
Marsch was passed over by the U.S. Soccer Federation for its coaching post in the summer of 2023, turning down other jobs in the belief that he would be hired. The USSF ultimately opted to rehire Gregg Berhalter. Marsch was then hired by the Canada Soccer Association in May 2024, and has beaten the USMNT twice since that time. Last March, he said he was "devastated and angry" at the snub. But now, ahead of Tuesday's friendly against the USMNT, he insists he doesn't hold anything against the Federation.
"There's definitely not a grudge. People want to take it that way, which is fine," Marsch said during Monday's pre-match news conference. "I don't mind. I think you know me well enough to know that I don't really care what people think too much."
The rivalry has been ratcheted up given political tensions. Marsch has stirred the pot, telling the Guardian that the delayed red-card suspension of Folarin Balogun at last summer's World Cup was another example of why "everyone around the world hates America." He referenced the Four Nations hockey tournament and the Concacaf Nations League, noting Canada's wins over the U.S. in September 2024 and the 2025 Nations League third-place game.
"I think yeah, the rivalry of course is something big," he said. "If we want to step into those moments and have that respect, you need to beat them sometimes."
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing