Is essentially the most fascinating supervisor on the Gold Cup the one who hasn’t even appeared but?
Jesse Marsch, the American answerable for Canada’s males’s nationwide crew, is at present serving a two-game suspension. He missed out Tuesday’s opener in opposition to Honduras in Vancouver (watching the 6-0 win from afar in a set at BC Place) and also will sit out Saturday’s Group B recreation vs Curaçao in Houston.
On Wednesday, Concacaf stated it will be additional investigating Marsch for guidelines violations and utilizing offensive language throughout Tuesday’s recreation — although he wasn’t’ even teaching.
It solely provides one other layer of intrigue for a supervisor that FOX Sports activities analyst Alexi Lalas described as “large, daring and boastful” earlier than the event.
So, who’s Jesse Marsch and why has he change into probably the most hot-topic figures on the Gold Cup? Lets’s dive in:
Why Is Marsch Suspended?
Marsch’s suspension dates again to March. He obtained a crimson card through the UEFA Nations League third-place match in opposition to the U.S. for berating the referee after which refusing to go away the pitch. His unique one‑recreation ban was elevated to 2 after Concacaf’s disciplinary committee dominated his conduct was “unacceptable.”
However with Wednesday’s announcement of a recent investigation into Marsch, it may result in additional disciplinary motion. As of now, Marsch will return for Canada’s group stage finale in opposition to El Salvador on June 24 in Houston.
And after the Canadians’ assertion win, this crew could be very a lot residing as much as expectations of being a event favourite and profitable the title for the primary time since 2000.
Jesse Marsch argues through the Nations League third-place match between United States and Canada in March. (Picture by Eliecer Aizprua Banfield/Jam Media/Getty Photographs)
Was Marsch ever a U.S. males’s coach candidate?
Sure, he was. Marsch made a splash teaching in Europe with Austrian membership FC Salzburg from 2019-2021 after which had a brief stint at Germany’s RB Leipzig earlier than getting fired from Leeds United in 2023.
Marsch interviewed for the U.S. males’s crew job in 2023, however U.S. Soccer rehired Gregg Berhalter. Marsch was candid about that call, saying afterward that he “wasn’t handled very effectively within the course of.”
As an alternative, he was employed to take over Canada’s crew forward of the 2024 Copa America, and led the crew to a shock run to the semifinals the place it misplaced to eventual champion Argentina. However the feud between Marsch and U.S. Soccer has solely elevated since then.
What has Marsch stated in regards to the U.S. males’s crew?
Marsch has taken some digs on the U.S. males’s crew since turning into Canada’s coach. After the U.S. was eradicated within the group stage on the 2024 Copa America, Marsch was fairly candid in regards to the crew he as soon as represented as a participant.
“I am dissatisfied with the performances, the shortage of self-discipline. There are lots of issues that I feel we have tried to embody in regards to the recreation within the U.S., and we have at all times believed in these group of gamers,” Marsch stated final summer season. “I am not there on daily basis, so I haven’t got my finger on the heartbeat of what is going on on, however it’s actually not what we anticipated coming into [the Copa America].”
Mauricio Pochettino and Jesse Marsch might be on monitor for a U.S.-Canada conflict within the Gold Cup semifinals. (Picture by Alexis Quiroz/Jam Media/Getty Photographs)
Forward of this version Gold Cup, there was speak about whether or not Marsch would think about the U.S. males’s job ought to Mauricio Pochettino depart the publish – particularly forward of the 2026 World Cup.
“I wish to make it clear – I don’t care in regards to the U.S. crew, and I by no means wish to coach the U.S. nationwide crew. I’m making that clear proper now,” Marsch stated.
With Canada additionally being a co-host for 2026 World Cup, anticipate Marsch to nonetheless be concerned if the crew continues to dwell as much as its expectations.
Marsch vs. Pochettino: Ought to we anticipate a U.S.-Canada conflict on the Gold Cup?
If the U.S. and Canada advance to the knockout rounds – each groups are accountable for their respective teams – they might sq. up at one of many semifinal video games on July 2.
That will make for a tantalizing matchup between Marsch and Pochettino. These two coaches have already confronted one another in March – the 2-1 win for Canada within the Concacaf Nations League third-place match that acquired Marsch suspended within the first place – so anticipate some fireworks if the 2 groups meet.
Canada has not received this event since 2000, so anticipate for Marsch to be additional motivated if the U.S. stand in his manner of the title. In any case, Canada has among the finest squads within the event (though Alphonso Davies is out with an damage). That is one thing Marsch made clear when he talked in regards to the U.S. squad, which is lacking gamers like Christian Pulisic.
“Not one man known as me and stated, ‘Coach, I do not know, it has been a protracted 12 months, perhaps I do not come to the Gold Cup.’ Not one man,” Marsch stated earlier this month. “Not even near that dialog.”
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