While the Concacaf Nations League is a tournament that will showcase the best that the confederation has to offer, this year’s edition comes during a tenuous political climate between participants Mexico, Canada, Panama, and the United States.

In leading up to the tournament, Canadian head coach Jesse Marsch criticized President Donald Trump’s comments about making Canada the 51st state during a Nations League press conference in February. Mexico’s coach Javier Aguirre also remarked about Trump’s signing of an executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, stating, “For me, it’s the Gulf of Mexico.”

As the USA men’s national team plans to face Panama on March 20 at SoFi Stadium, coach Mauricio Pochettino emphasized the need to focus solely on the game. He stated, “We cannot mix political issues with sports in my career. It’s not because I don’t want to talk, but we have qualified people who can handle those discussions.”

Pochettino further elaborated that soccer should be a fun and engaging sport, free from the tensions arising from political disagreements. He highlighted the importance of players staying focused on their performance rather than being distracted by external issues.

During this challenging period, it is vital for teams to present their best on-field performance, separated from the complexity of diplomatic relations.