The Concacaf Nations League is set to showcase top talent, but this year’s tournament takes place amidst political tensions involving Mexico, Canada, Panama, and the United States. Leading up to the event, Canada’s coach, American Jesse Marsch, criticized President Donald Trump’s remarks about Canada becoming the 51st state. Mexico’s coach Javier Aguirre also commented on the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico.
As the United States prepares to play Panama on Thursday, March 20 at SoFi Stadium, USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino stressed the need to concentrate on soccer. Pochettino, who wasn’t present at the press conference where political remarks were made, clarified his stance.
‘I spoke with Jesse Marsch earlier, and we had a friendly chat because we know each other from Europe. In my opinion, politics and sports should remain separate. It’s not that I avoid political discussions,’ Pochettino stated.
‘There are experts better suited to discuss politics. While I have my personal views as a 53-year-old, mixing politics with sports is not appropriate for me.’
‘Soccer is my focus. We aim to defeat Panama and subsequent opponents – to win decisively in a sporting sense. This motivation should stem from our pride in representing our country and striving to outperform our rivals on the field. It would be a mistake to bring politics into this, as fans expect us to focus on the game.’
Pochettino added that soccer should be enjoyed as the world’s best sport and a source of entertainment for fans. Sporting tensions between the United States and Canada are evident, as seen during the 4 Nations Hockey tournament where Canadian fans booed the U.S. anthem, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau celebrated Canada’s victory on social media, stating, ‘You can’t take our country — and you can’t take our game.’
Marsch previously stated, ‘I’ve made my political views clear. The atmosphere in North American sports for national teams is heightened. I hope this tournament reflects the best of our societies and avoids distractions like booing anthems and political issues.’
