Canada coach very tough on Trump: "Enough with the ridiculous 51st state rhetoric"

The United States, Mexico and Canada will jointly host the 2026 World Cup in the midst of diplomatic tensions between the three countries over the foreign and trade policies of Donald Trump, as well as his repeated and controversial statements regarding its two neighbors to the north and south of its borders.

The discontent in many Central and North American countries with the Republican president's expansionist policy is remarkable and was evident in the press conference prior to the CONCACAF Nations League finals, in which the coaches of Canada, the United States, Mexico and Panama, the four participating teams, took part.

Jesse Marsch, coach of the Canadian team, did not miss the opportunity to criticize Trump and his "ridiculous rhetoric about Canada as the 51st state". Born in Wisconsin, his opinion has had a prominent impact in the country of the stars and stripes. "I send a message to our president to put an end to this arrogance and disrespect towards one of our longest-standing, strongest and most loyal allies," said Marsch, going so far as to say that he feels "ashamed as an American citizen".

Trump's words on the 'annexation' of Canada

Donald Trump's ambition to expand the borders of the United States has been a constant theme in his first weeks in office. From Panama to Greenland via Canada, the Republican president has repeatedly acknowledged his willingness to expand the US map beyond its current limits.

In the run-up to the final of the '4 Nations Cup', played in Boston with the participation of Canada, Sweden, Finland and the USA, a post by Trump on social media once again ignited the fuse between two traditionally brotherly nations. "This morning I will call our GREAT American ice hockey team to spur them on to victory tonight against Canada, which with MUCH LOWER TAXES AND GREATER SECURITY, someday, maybe soon,will become our beloved and very important 51st state,"

Canada won the final of the tournament 3-2 and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took advantage of the victory to remind his US counterpart that his country is not for sale and to stoke the flames of latent tension between the two nations since late 2024:"You can't take away our country or our sport".

Aguirre passes on politics, but claims the 'Gulf of Mexico'

Jesse Marsch did not hesitate to delve into political issues when questioned by the press, defending "the decency, integrity and respect for Canada's moral values" in the face of Trump's "disturbing and frankly insulting" attitude, whom he accused of generating a "climate of hatred and polarization" on the continent.

However, Javier Aguirre, coach of Mexico, wanted to avoid any problems and controversy by leaving politics aside. "I would not like to enter a field that does not concern me and that is not the reason for this meeting," said the Mexican, assuring that he feels great empathy and respect towards all his compatriots who have sought a better life in the United States, as his parents did in their day.

"Although for me, it's called the Gulf of Mexico, obviously," concluded the 'El Tri' coach, raising a smile from everyone present as he referred to another of Trump's most notorious controversies when he .