American-born soccer coach of Team Canada says he’s ‘ashamed’ over Trump’s 51st state calls | OneFootball

The American-born coach of Canada’s national soccer team says he is “ashamed” over previous calls by U.S. President Donald Trump to make the country the 51st U.S. state.

“If I have one message to our president, it’s lay off the ridiculous rhetoric about Canada being the 51st state. 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,” Jesse Marsch he said before his team and 47 others learn their opponents for the 2026 World Cup.

“Canada is a strong, independent nation that is deep-rooted in decency, really, and it’s a place that values high ethics and respect.”

Trump reportedly first made the comments to former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau while still president-elect, suggesting that "maybe Canada should become the 51st state" to avoid a 25 percent tariff on all goods entering the U.S. from the northern border. The president has doubled down again and again on the comment, posting numerous memes and AI images, including one of himself standing with a Canadian flag atop a mountain – which internet users later pointed out appeared to resemble a Swiss mountain.

Canada, the U.S. and Mexico are the hosts for the 2026 World Cup and their national teams have all made the tournament set for the summer.

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The American-born coach of Canada’s national soccer team says he is ‘ashamed’ over previous calls by Donald Trump to make the country the 51st US state. (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

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Marsch’s stern words come ahead of the draw for the 2026 World Cup, which is due to take place Friday at 1 p.m. the Kennedy Center, in Washington, DC (REUTERS)

Marsch, who was born in Wisconsin and played 14 seasons in Major League Soccer, has coached Team Canada since May 2024. Speaking at Concacaf Nations League Finals media day in Inglewood, California, he addressed Trump’s comments directly.

“Unlike the polarized, disrespectful and often hate-fueled climate in the US, Canada values fairness and unity,” Marsch continued. “It’s a place – that I’ve learned as the national team coach – where people believe that their differences make them stronger.”

He added: “For me, right now, I couldn’t be prouder to be the Canadian national team head coach and I found a place that embodies the ideals and morals of not just what football is but what life is - that’s integrity, respect, and the belief that good people can do great things together.”

At Friday’s draw ceremony the 48-team field will be divided into 12 groups of four. Once the tournament starts, 32 teams will advance from those preliminary groups to the single-elimination knockout rounds.

America will host the majority of the matches for next year’ World Cup, with 78 taking place across the U.S. Both Canada and Mexico are set to host 13 games.

Mexico will be the first of the host nations to play, kicking off the tournament on June 11 with a game in the Estadio Azteca. The U.S and Canada are scheduled to play their first matches a day later on June 12, in the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and the BMO Field in Toronto, respectively.

None of the host nations are favored by the bookmakers to win the tournament, with European champions Spain currently having the best odds. They are followed closely by England and World Cup 2022 runners-up France.