Copa América: refreshed Canada can play spoilers at maiden tournament
Jesse Marsch’s squad have an eye on 2026 but have enough talent to disrupt the group stage as they prepare for the tournament opener against Argentina
History was made 67 seconds into Canada’s game against Croatia at the 2022 World Cup. Alphonso Davies’ leaping header was the team’s first-ever goal at the men’s tournament and set the tone for a new era of Canadian soccer – an era that Jesse Marsch will hope to accelerate at Copa América.
In May, Marsch was announced as the Canadian men’s national team head coach, replacing John Herdman, who left to join Toronto FC in MLS. Historically, coaching Canada has been tough. The organization has experienced political and financial turmoil, with the women’s national team being especially vocal about a lack of investment. Despite those concerns, Marsch, who interviewed for the USMNT job in 2022, accepted a job some would say he is overqualified for – thanks to some creative accounting from Canada’s MLS franchises.
