Marsch leads Canada to first World Cup knockouts
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- Jesse Marsch has led Canada into the World Cup knockouts for the first time in their history, with a last-32 match against South Africa scheduled for Sunday in Los Angeles.
- Leeds United sacked Marsch after just seven games without a win, months after he kept them in the Premier League on the final day of the 2022-23 season; Marsch called the decision "foolish."
- The US Soccer Federation bypassed Marsch for the head coach role in 2024, hiring Mauricio Pochettino instead despite Marsch believing the job was his.
- Marsch took the Canada job in May 2024 and immersed himself in the role, visiting nine cities in 10 days, hosting players at his home in Italy, and promising to "unite the Canadian soccer community."
- Canada beat Qatar 6-0 in their second group game, with Marsch celebrating by parading around the pitch and holding up six fingers to Canadian fans at full-time.
- Midfielder Liam Miller returned from a late-2024 ACL injury after Marsch personally supported his rehabilitation in Italy, going on to help Hull City secure promotion back to the Premier League.
Why it matters: Canada's first-ever World Cup knockout-stage qualification validates Marsch's project after he was fired by Leeds and passed over for the USA job — and with Marsch having explicitly targeted the 2026 World Cup when taking the role, Sunday's South Africa match is a real benchmark for how far this team can grow. The Pochettino contrast is unavoidable: the US missed the knockouts while the coach they rejected took Canada through.
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