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 newsconference. "I don't mind. I think you know me well enough to know that I don't really care what people think too much. You learn in this job that everyone's going to try to pretend like they know you, but obviously I'm also making polarized statements at times. So for me personally, I can honestly say this, in all three of the matches where we've been tasked with playing the U.S. is I know that the U.S. is a good team and they're someone that we measure ourselves against and I want to do everything I can to give these guys the best opportunity to go out and play at their best and win the match."
The rivalry between the two sides has been ratcheted up in the last 20 months, given the political tensions between the two countries. Marsch hasn't minded stirring up the pot, telling the Guardian in a recent interview that the delayed red-card suspension of U.S. forward Folarin Balogun at last summer's World Cup, in which U.S. President Donald Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino in a bid to allow the Monaco striker to play, was another example of why "everyone around the world hates America."
When asked about the state of Canada's rivalry with the U.S., Marsch brought up both the Four Nations hockey tournament as well as the Concacaf Nations League.
"That was a spirited moment politically and also sporting wise," Marsch said about the Four Nations. "Here we are now, the big talk in America is Lake Ontario, Lake America, this kind of crap. In the end, I don't have to sit in front of the guys and say, 'Okay guys, we're playing the U.S. This is an important game. We have to get ready and we have to make sure that we're at our best.'
"They don't need reminders when we play the U.S. But to be fair, it's different with Mexico, but because we have respect for the U.S., because we have respect for Mexico, we want to continue to show that we are on the level that they are or above them. And the best way to do that is to perform and win."
Such has been Canada's rise over the last two World Cup cycles, as well as its recent success over the U.S., that the rivalry has become more intense. Canada won a friendly against the U.S. in Sept. 2024 by a final score of 2-1 and also beat the USMNT 2-1 in the 2025 Concacaf Nations League 3rd place game.
And Marsch said he can sense the game's increased importance.
"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. I think of course a lot of the people in the U.S. talk about Mexico being their biggest rival, but we know we feel like we're in that conversation as well in terms of our quality and what we've done not only in the past, but what we can do leading up to as well. And I think to be really a part of that, you need to go and be a part of these games. And you've seen some of these games get feisty and be a fight because they don't want to lose either. I think when you're at the top, you don't want anyone that's below you to take that power. And there's been obviously some conversation of who is at the top and there's a lot more discussion of who it is there."
Marsch added that when it comes to soccer, Canada wants to be the "beacon of the region" and believes they can be.
"I think the rivalry is better than it's ever been, more because the two teams are good," he said.
Marsch outspokenness in terms of the current political situation in the U.S. resulted in him being asked if he felt more Canadian or American.
"Look, I'm American, but I'm honored and really proud to be the Canadian national team coach," Marsch said. "And I think we know I'm not afraid to say things that I think sometimes need to be said or that I feel should be said. Whether people agree with them or not, I get that it's not always the job of a sports person to put themselves in the forefront of the political environments and everything else. But I've had a unique perspective being an American and having a bit of a Canadian mentality and representing a really important role in the nation.
"So I've taken that on as something that I take very seriously. And when I believe that there's things that need to be said and stood up for, then I do that. Do I cross the line sometimes? Yeah, probably. But so what? So what? The team's ready to play on the weekend and we should all be happy."