Jesse Marsch gets coaching job in Canada ahead of this summer’s Copa America and 2026 World Cup as co-host

Former Premier League tactician Jesse Marsch was named head coach of the Canadian men’s national team on Monday. The American joins Canada Soccer in time for the Copa America on US soil in June with a contract that will keep him in charge during the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Marsch’s first games in charge of Canada will be June’s friendlies against the Netherlands and France, followed by the Copa America. Canada will play reigning champion Argentina in the opening match of the tournament on June 20 in Atlanta before wrapping up the group stage against Peru in Kansas City and Chile in Orlando.

This is Marsch’s first managerial role since February 2023, when he was sacked by Leeds United after a year in the job and shortly before they were relegated from the Premier League. Since then he has been co-host of Call it whatever you want on CBS Sports Golazo Network, which focuses on all things USMNT.

Marsch is one of the most high-profile American managers in men’s soccer. He made his name with a spell at Red Bull Salzburg and his time as an assistant at RB Leipzig before moving to England. He began his coaching career as an assistant for the U.S. Men’s National Team and was part of the staff that reached the round of 16 at the 2010 World Cup, then moved on to MLS appearances with CF Montreal and the New York Red Bulls.

Marsch was in the mix to become USMNT head coach last year when US Soccer interviewed candidates for the role. The federation ultimately opted to rehire Gregg Berhalter after he led the team to a round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup.

It marks the end of Canada’s months-long search for a new head coach. John Herdman left the post in August after a five-year stint in charge that included the 2022 World Cup, the first time Canada has qualified for the tournament in 36 years. Herdman maximized the potential of a talented young side to qualify for Qatar, but exited the competition in the group stage with three defeats, as Canada were defeated seven games to two in three games.

Canada Soccer’s unique financing

Marsch will officially be known as the head coach of the MLS Canada men’s national team, a reference to the fact that the owners of MLS’s three Canadian teams – Montreal, Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps – have made philanthropic contributions to the program. Other private donors have also contributed as part of a new major gifts program that will be available to all Canada Soccer national teams.

It is a remarkable development amid financial problems at the governing body. The past year and changes have been marred by a financial scandal at Canada Soccer that is ongoing and centers on a deal they signed with a private company called Canada Soccer Business (CSB). CSB acquired the rights to sell broadcast and sponsorship rights for Canada Soccer from 2019 to 2027, all in exchange for an annual fee increasing to $2.56 million by 2027. according to TSN. Canada Soccer’s murky finances have led to budget cuts and restructuring in recent years, resulting in labor disputes from both the Men and women’s national teams ahead of their respective World Cups in 2022 and 2023.

The deal between Canada Soccer and CSB has also been the subject of hearings in the Canadian parliament The union representing players on the women’s national team has filed a lawsuit against 15 former and current members of Canada Soccer’s board in connection with the deal.

Herdman himself was critical of Canada Soccer’s financial constraints, arguing that the federation was wasting its best generation of talent shortly after its defeat to the USMNT in the Concacaf Nations League final last June.

“We have the best generation of players we have had, and there are more to come,” he said. according to Sportnet. “[But] We have to solve this financially. We have to get serious about winning a World Cup. If you play at home you have a chance to win it. You get the chance to reach a quarter-final and then go that route to win. And we are not serious. We have brought a World Cup to our country and we are not serious about winning it.”