Jesse Marsch appointed Canada head coach - "All in for" World Cup 2026

The search for a new head coach for the Canadian men’s national team is over. On Monday, Canada Soccer announced the appointment of former Red Bull Salzburg, RB Leipzig, and Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch as the new head coach of the CanMNT. But Marsch has not just coached at the club level. The 50-year-old Racine, Wisconsin native, was also part of the US men’s national team coaching setup between 2010 and 2011. The contract will run until 2026 when Canada together with the United States and Mexico will host the World Cup.

“After extensive consultation with expert stakeholders and a rigorous search process, I am delighted to make today’s announcement,” CEO & General Secretary of Canada Soccer Kevin Blue said. “Jesse is a transformational leader who will drive progress for our men’s national team – and for Canadian soccer more broadly – as we enter the most important time in the domestic history of our sport. He’s been a successful manager at the highest levels of global football, helped advance a Concacaf nation out of the group stage at the FIFA World Cup, and is an experienced builder who will make a significant impact on the landscape of our sport. I’m excited to welcome him back to Canada.” 

Added Jesse Marsch: “It is an absolute honor to represent and lead the Canadian Men’s National Team in our preparation for a home World Cup. The combination of the new leadership inside of Canada Soccer and the potential of this dynamic player pool has inspired me, and I am ready and eager to take on this massive responsibility. My excitement and anticipation to get started are immense. One of my main goals will be to help unite the soccer community in Canada to support our efforts to be successful on and off the pitch. All In for 2026!” 

Jesse Marsch new CanMNT coach – Financed by Canada’s MLS clubs 

Canada Soccer also announced that the appointment of Marsch was made possible through philanthropic contributions from the owners of the three Canadian-based Major League Soccer clubs: Vancouver Whitecaps, CF Montréal, and Toronto FC. With Canada Soccer in significant financial trouble, the contributions made by Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment – the parent company of Toronto FC, the Maple Leafs, and the Raptors – and Joey Saputo – the owner of Montréal and Serie A side Bologna – means that Marsch’s title will be officially MLS Canada Men’s National Team Head Coach during his initial contract. 

What will Marsch add to the Canada Soccer program? Marsch was once considered the most promising American coach in European football. Indeed, his tenure in Salzburg, where he worked with the likes of Erling Haaland, stands out. Marsch averaged 2.18 points per game across 94 fixtures during his time in Austria and guided the club to two Austrian Bundesliga titles and Austrian Cups. “We like to play fast,” Marsch said in an interview with Transfermarkt at the time. “We like to control space and play vertically. Not to give the opponent time and space, and when we will win the ball, be as dangerous as we can.”

That sort of playing style also made him the perfect choice to replace Julian Nagelsmann at RB Leipzig in 2021. But Marsch’s time in Leipzig can only be described as a disaster. Marsch’s team collected just 1.25 points per game across 20 fixtures, and ultimately, the American was replaced by Domenico Tedesco. What followed was a 37-game stint at Leeds United in which Marsch’s side collected 1.16 points per game. Although Marsch was no longer in charge when it happened, Leeds was ultimately relegated. The flipside of all this is that in both cases, Marsch was succeeding hugely popular managers. Nagelsmann in Leipzig and Marcelo Bielsa in Leeds. Furthermore, Leeds were outside the relegation zone when Marsch was released. Furthermore, his highly motivational approach might be a great fit for national team duty, especially among a group of players, who have previously worked with a similar coach like John Herdman.