The 2024 Copa America is nearing its conclusion, and Canada, participating in the tournament for the first time, will face Uruguay, a 15-time Copa America champion, in the third-place playoff. Ahead of the match, Canadian head coach Jesse Marsch expressed his intent to use the Copa America as an opportunity to further develop football in Canada and hopes that securing third place will serve as a catalyst for growth.
Marsch, who took over the Canadian national team five weeks before the start of the Copa America after previously coaching Leeds United, believes that there is fertile ground for football in Canada, one of the co-hosts of the tournament. However, he acknowledges that much work remains to be done to truly compete with the world’s top teams, and this starts with nurturing more local young talents.
Marsch stated, “We are working hard towards high levels, but to truly become a team capable of withstanding crucial moments and major matches, we have a lot of work ahead of us. We need to find ways to accelerate the progress of our players from physical, mental, and cognitive perspectives. When you play against teams like Argentina and France, you see the pace and physicality of top-level players, which is what we need to achieve. In fact, there are many excellent players in Canada, and we need to cultivate them in a way that truly reflects high-level football.”
Canada’s task at the Copa America is not yet complete, and Marsch hopes the team can continue to bring joy to Canadians. He said, “I hope the experience of the national team in the Copa America can ignite the love for football in this hockey-loving nation, that it helps develop the sport domestically, and that people remember this moment because it will change the trajectory of football development in Canada.”
