Inglewood, Calif. – Six weeks before the last four teams standing in the Concacaf Nations League gathered in the Los Angeles area, the U.S.’ new geopolitical realities positioned themselves as a massive cloud that would linger over the North American soccer championship. The list of events that signaled as much grew quickly, from comedian Jon Stewart’s Concacaf quip during an early February episode of “The Daily Show” to the heated 4 Nations Challenge between the U.S. and Canada’s hockey teams weeks later.
Jesse Marsch, the American coach of Canada’s national soccer team, ensured the topic entered his sport’s domain with a stern rebuke of U.S. President Donald Trump’s ‘51st state’ rhetoric amid a tariff war, just days after Canada’s hockey team achieved victory over their neighbors to the south.
By the time each of the head coaches from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Panama reached SoFi Stadium for pre-match remarks ahead of the semifinals, they expressed that soccer was the main focus during discussions with their players this week.
Panama head coach Thomas Christiansen, whose side is set to face the U.S. men’s national team on Thursday in the opening semifinal, addressed the underlying tensions stemming from political issues between the two nations, especially surrounding the Panama Canal.
“It’s not a plan of motivation. Speaking or talking about politics is not my area,” Christiansen stated, choosing to keep the focus on soccer.
Marsch noted that his players are aware of the broader context but emphasized that his intent is not to put them in the spotlight as political figures. Pochettino mirrored Marsch’s sentiments, stressing that enjoyment of the sport should be prioritized over political influences.
“The climate for sports in North America has been elevated for national teams,” Marsch said. “We know there’s a charged atmosphere surrounding what these international games signify.”
Quotes
- Jesse Marsch: “I’m hopeful that this tournament will reflect our societies well, avoiding distractions from politics. We should focus on supporting our teams and enjoying the game.”
- Mauricio Pochettino: “I think we cannot mix political issues with sport. Motivation cannot stem from political or diplomatic conflicts.”
