Canada coach Jesse Marsch's statements about the relationship of some American soccer players with the national anthem provoked an immediate response from one of the historical figures of United States soccer. Clint Dempsey publicly questioned the comments of the former assistant coach of the American team and defended the way in which he lived his time representing his country.

The reaction occurred during the television coverage prior to the match between Canada and Bosnia-Herzegovina in the 2026 World Cup, a match that ended tied 1-1 and allowed the Canadian team to score the first World Cup point in its history.

Hours before the commitment, Marsch had used an experience from his time as a member of the United States coaching staff to highlight the commitment he currently observes within the Canadian locker room.

“In the United States, sometimes we had to beg the players to sing the national anthem,” the coach said Thursday.

The statement did not go unnoticed by Dempsey, who shared a cycle with Marsch during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and reacted harshly upon hearing those words during a Fox broadcast.

“Did he really say that?” the former striker said on air. "I can't take this guy too seriously. It was an honor for me, as a kid, to represent my country. When the national anthem played, I wasn't one of those who normally sang. I would put my hand on my heart and pray to God."

Dempsey vindicates his experience and questions Marsch's message

The former player went deeper into his response and maintained that commitment to the national team should not be measured by a specific way of experiencing the moment of the anthem.

"I am someone who has given his life for this country. I broke my nose playing for this country. I have recovered from two heart surgeries and am back playing for this country."

Dempsey also referenced Marsch's current ties to Canada and questioned his making public comparisons to his former team.

"I'm not going to take advice from someone who crossed over to the other side and now sings another country's national anthem. And as my friend Thierry Henry would say, stay in your lane, worry about your own team."

The public tension occurs in a context where Marsch had already shown differences with the United States Soccer Federation. Since he was no longer considered to lead the national team in 2023, after ending Gregg Berhalter's contractual cycle after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the coach has expressed his dissatisfaction with the treatment received on several occasions.

In May 2024 he even stated that he did not feel well treated by a federation for which he had played and worked.

Marsch explained that he used the anecdote about the anthem to highlight the attitude of the Canadian group since he took office a little more than two years ago.

“These guys sing the national anthem at the top of their lungs,” said the coach, referring to Canada's soccer players. “Because they want to show the country how proud they are to be here, to be Canadian and to represent what Canada is.”

While the debate generated by his words continues, Canada will continue its journey in Group B with matches against Switzerland and Qatar, with the aim of advancing to the knockout stage of a World Cup for the first time.