Canada coach Jesse Marsch understands why some fans may not want to travel to US for Gold Cup
Canada coach Jesse Marsch understands some of his team's supporters might not want to travel to the CONCACAF Gold Cup for fear of difficulty at the U.S. border.
"I could see trepidation for anyone looking to travel to the U.S. at this current political climate," he said during a Zoom news conference Monday. "So it's a sad thing, I think, that we have to talk about visiting the U.S. in this way but I think everybody has to make decisions that are best for them and that fit best with what's going on in their life and their lifestyle."
Since President Donald Trump started his second term in January, there have been reports of tourists being stopped at U.S. border crossings and held at immigration detention facilities before being allowed to fly home at their own expense. Canadian Jasmine Mooney, an actor and entrepreneur with a U.S. work visa, was detained by U.S. border agents in San Diego on March 3. She was released after 12 days' detention.
Canadian residents' return trips by air from the U.S. fell 20% in April, and return trips by car were down 35%, according to Statistics Canada.
Marsch, a 51-year-old American born in Racine, Wisconsin, was hired as Canada's coach in May 2024 after previous stints at Montreal, the New York Red Bulls, Red Bull Salzburg, RB Leipzig and Leeds.
Canada is a co-host with the U.S. and Mexico of next year's World Cup. It opens the Gold Cup, the championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean, on June 17 against Honduras at Vancouver, British Columbia, then plays its next two matches in Houston, against Curacao on June 21 and El Salvador on June 24.
"It would be a shame if we didn't get the kind of fan support that I think our team deserves from our country, from our fans, because of the political climate, especially if we could achieve a lot in this tournament and get to the final, which is our goal," Marsch said. "So I'm not sure how everybody will act or react to what the situation is, but I certainly hope that we have big support in these meaningful matches. I know we will in Vancouver."
CONCACAF's Gold Cup will be played from June 14 to July 6 in 14 venues, all but one in the U.S.
Marsch will not be allowed to coach on the sideline for the games against Honduras and Curacao because of a two-game suspension by CONCACAF for his conduct toward match officials and refusal to leave the field during a Nations League third-place game against the U.S. on March 23.
Mexico has won nine Gold Cups, including 2023. The U.S. has won seven, including 2021, and Canada won in 2000.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
43 minutes ago
- CBC
Holland College questions fairness of province giving $2M grant only to UPEI
Social Sharing The president of Holland College is not happy that the P.E.I. government stepped in with a $2-million grant to the University of Prince Edward Island to cope with the loss of revenue from international tuition fees, but Holland College got nothing. "It doesn't seem fair... I support closely what the administration of UPEI is doing and I think that they are doing some cool things after a very difficult period of time, but no, it doesn't seem fair," said college president and CEO Sandy MacDonald. "I guess I'm qualifying my answer because I'm hoping the province will take the opportunity in the next fiscal year to balance things out, so I'm hoping it will be made fair." MacDonald has estimated that the international student population at the college will plummet by 85 per cent over the next two years as federal changes to student permits kick in, designed in part to relieve a nationwide housing crunch. From a high of 800 international students, Holland College enrolment is projected to fall to 140 students by September 2026. That means a huge drop in revenue, leading the college to phase out eight programs and lay off 25 staff. Three kilometres away from Holland College's main campus in Charlottetown, at the University of Prince Edward Island, officials have raised tuition fees and made some cuts. But they also received a one-time grant of $2 million from the Department of Workforce, Advanced Learning and Population to help offset the loss of international tuition fees, estimated at $3 million this year. It was included in UPEI's 2025-2026 budget as a line item called International Enrolment Reduction Support. UPEI's vice-president of administration and finance, Tim Walker, said it will be used for things like recruitment and retention, enrolment planning, and a hunt for new revenue streams. "This important support gives UPEI the opportunity to consider more options and take action during this fiscal year, ensuring we have a stronger foundation for the next budget planning cycle (2026-27)," Walker said in an email to CBC News. MacDonald said getting a similar $2 million would have made a huge difference to Holland College. "We have been underfunded for many years," he said. "We've made the argument many times. It goes back all the way to the auditor general's report from 1999; Wayne Murphy said at the time we had a structural deficit." Why the upfront cost is multiplying for international students on the Island 1 year ago Duration 3:59 Both UPEI and Holland College are increasing tuition deposits for international students. Lornie Hughes, the registrar at Holland College, explains why. Expected funding did not come in He said in 2023, the college and the province made a deal that would provide extra money over the next three fiscal years to help the college catch up with its deficit. Then it would go back to a lower funding level. The first year, Holland College did get a 9.5 per cent increase and $3 million more for its capital budget. This year, it was expecting the same. "We did not get that. We got a 6.5 per cent increase and half of the $3 million in capital," MacDonald said. "We were disappointed, but we understood the province is under financial constraints, so we had to accept that." Would the $2 million have made a difference in terms of those decisions? Of course it would. — Sandy MacDonald Then came the realization that UPEI had asked for — and gotten — the $2 million grant. "We've suspended eight programs, we've cut portions of three other programs," MacDonald said. "Those were the results of the deficit that we faced this fiscal year. So would the $2 million have made a difference in terms of those decisions? Of course it would." As for the future, MacDonald said the college will ask for — and hopefully get — some International Enrolment Reduction Support funding of its own for 2026-2027. "Certainly we will have a significant deficit again this year," he said. "I've spoken to the province since the budget come down and they've said, 'We're willing to work with you.' "So if UPEI was getting a one-time grant for this issue this year, certainly we would be hoping to get something similar for next year." Cuts at Holland College will affect all union members, UPSE president says afterweekend meeting 2 months ago Duration 2:16 The news came late Friday: Holland College said it would freeze some programs and downsize others because caps on international students have led to the P.E.I. college is taking in less money. Over the weekend, the president of the college met with union officials like Karen Jackson of UPSE (shown) to discuss what happens next, especially with the 35 jobs that will be affected. CBC's Stacey Janzer reports. Province's response CBC News reached out to the provincial government about the grant to UPEI and MacDonald's concerns. "Holland College did not receive funding in the 2025-26 academic year for an international enrolment reduction support grant," a spokesperson replied by email. "The province is working closely with post-secondary institutions to help address overall enrolment challenges and the impact of international student reductions... "All funding requests submitted to the province undergo a thorough review and consideration process. Holland College did receive a 6.5 per cent increase in its core operating funding for the 2025-26 academic year to help address operational needs.
National Post
an hour ago
- National Post
The work is just beginning for the Toronto Sceptres
Any advantage the Toronto Sceptres enjoyed in having just one of its established veterans taken in the expansion draft is going to be a short-lived one. Article content All six existing clubs gave up four players in the expansion draft process that stocked each of PWHL Vancouver and PWHL Seattle with their first 12 players. Article content Article content Toronto lost one of its first building blocks in the process with Sarah Nurse signing with Vancouver during the exclusive signing window both expansion clubs had in the five days priors to the actual draft. Article content Article content But on draft night all three of the Sceptres names called were coming off their rookie seasons. Julia Gosling, Izzy Daniel and defender Megan Carter were Toronto's first, second, and third round picks a year ago at the entry draft. Article content Because of their lack of tenure in the league, all three were also on entry level deals which becomes a problem for GM Gina Kingsbury beginning Monday when she goes looking to fill their spots with the opening of free agency. Article content 'It's difficult to lose all four of those athletes,' Kingsbury said Tuesday. 'They bring a tremendous amount of value to our organization and to our team. Three of those four came in just last season so more of an entry-level salary which doesn't free up a whole lot of room for us in this (upcoming signing period). Article content 'However obviously Sarah did carry a little bit of salary where we will have some space there, but it's definitely all different factors that come into play during this period of time and definitely something we are going to have to navigate in the next couple of weeks and ensure we can re-sign some of our key players.' Article content First on Kingsbury's list though is her own free agents and bringing as many of those back into the fold as possible. That list includes Natalie Spooner, Hannah Miller, Jesse Compher, Kali Flanagan, Hayley Scamurra and Maggie Connors and that's just the beginning of the list. It's actually 11 deep and while the goal is to bring them all back, again the economics of the situation likely won't support that. Article content You have the money they earned in their final years of the contract coming off the books but signing them for the same or less doesn't seem likely. Yes the salary cap increases to $1.34 million this year, an annual 3% bump as per the Collective Bargaining Agreement, but that won't offset the raises some of these free agents negotiate. Article content 'I do think we have a chance at re-signing them, from what they are telling me, where Toronto has been home for them,' Kingsbury said. 'They love our market. They love our fans. They love the city and enjoyed our staff and entire organization. So, I do think the familiarity of our market and how we have been operating over the last two years will definitely be a factor as well. We will try to be as competitive with the salaries as we possibly can and hopefully retain as many of those great athletes as we can here in the next couple of weeks.'
Globe and Mail
an hour ago
- Globe and Mail
Canada invites Saudi Crown Prince to G7 summit
Canada has invited Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the Group of Seven summit in Alberta this month, an extension of hospitality to a kingdom Ottawa once shunned after the 2018 murder of a dissident journalist who criticized its rulers. A source with knowledge of the matter confirmed the invitation and said there had been no response so far on whether Mr. bin Salman will attend the June 15-17 meeting in Kananaskis. The Globe and Mail is not identifying the source, as they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. Mr. bin Salman is not the only leader Canada is inviting in spite of a strained bilateral relationship. Prime Minister Mark Carney is welcoming Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi even though Ottawa has publicly accused his government of playing a role in the 2023 murder of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The G7 summit is being held just outside Calgary. Here's who will be there and what these meetings achieve Saudi Arabia and India are not members of the G7 but hosts of gatherings of this annual political and economic forum for top industrialized countries often invite other national leaders to join. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is also attending the summit in Alberta, as is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. In 2018, Ottawa followed the United States in imposing sanctions on 17 Saudis for the slaying of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi. He was murdered in the kingdom's Istanbul consulate in October of that year when he entered to procure documents certifying a divorce. U.S. media, including the Washington Post, later reported that the CIA believes the Crown Prince ordered Mr. Khashoggi's killing – contradicting Riyadh's assertion that he was not involved in the murder. Canada's sanctions remain in place today. Canada and Saudi Arabia also suffered a major diplomatic rift for nearly five years starting in 2018 when Riyadh expelled Canada's ambassador after the department of Global Affairs and Chrystia Freeland, who was minister of foreign affairs at the time, publicly called for the immediate release of several imprisoned political activists in the kingdom. Riyadh also recalled its envoy, decrying what it said was 'blatant interference' in its internal affairs, and it froze new trade and investment with Canada. The Saudi embassy in Ottawa did not immediately return a request for comment on the invitation.
