Clint Dempsey rebukes Jesse Marsch over anthem claim before Canada debut | OneFootball

Clint Dempsey has hit out at Jesse Marsch after the former Leeds United manager said he once had to beg USA players to sing the national anthem. Marsch made the remark before leading Canada in their 2026 World Cup opener against Bosnia & Herzegovina, which finished 1-1 at Toronto Stadium on Friday.

According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, Marsch said: "In the US, sometimes we had to beg players to sing the national anthem."

"These guys [the Canadian players] sing the national anthem, belt it out to the top of their lungs, because they want to show the country how proud they are to be here, to be Canadians and to represent what Canada is."

Dempsey, the USA’s all-time top scorer and Marsch’s former national-team colleague, responded strongly. "He really said that? Man, I can't take this guy too seriously," Dempsey said. He explained he would often place a hand over his heart and pray rather than sing, spoke of injuries and heart procedures suffered while representing the USA, and added: "And as my boy Titi [Thierry Henry] would say, stay in your own lane."

Marsch’s relationship with the US national team has been tense in recent years after he was overlooked following Gregg Berhalter’s 2022 exit. The USA beat Paraguay 4-1 in Los Angeles, with Leeds midfielder Brenden Aaronson unused as former Elland Road teammate Weston McKennie impressed.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk