Although the Concacaf Nations League is a tournament that will show the best that the Confederation has to offer, this year’s edition occurs during a faint political climate among the participants Mexico, Canada, Panama and the United States. In the period prior to the tournament, the Canadian chief coach and the Americans Jesse Marsch spoke against the comments of President Donald Trump about how to make Canada the State 51 During a press conference from the Nations League in February. Mexico’s coach Javier Aguirre even commented on Trump signing an executive order to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America, saying: “For me, it is the Gulf of Mexico.”
Preparing to face Panama on Thursday, March 20 at the Sofi Stadium in Paramount+ at 7 PM ET, the head coach of the National Team of the United States, Mauricio Pochettino. Who was not at the press conference in February, did not want to confuse where the approach was.
“I think we can’t mix political things with sport in my career. It’s not because I don’t want to talk,” said Pochettino.
“We have qualified people who can talk about politics, but I am not an expert in politics. I have, of course, my ideas like a 53 -year -old man, but it is not the point for me to mix.
“Soccer is football or football for me. But we want to destroy Panama … when I say we destroy, it is in a [sporting] shape. We want to beat them and win the game, and I think that motivation cannot be of different diplomatic problems in which we cannot participate, the players cannot participate.
“We need to play for us, we have to be proud to defend our flag. We need to play for our country, always in the field trying to be better than the opponent. I think it is a great mistake if we talk about politics, because people are not waiting for us to speak in this way.”
Pochettino continued to affirm that football is a sport that should be enjoyed because for him it is the best sport in the world and something fun for fans to enjoy. Tensions are high between the United States and Canada at sports as shown during the 4 nations hockey tournament Where Canadian fans booed the US national anthem. And Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also published a message of celebration about X when Canada won that tournament.
“You can’t take our country, and you can’t take our game,” Trudeau said.
“I will not be too political at this time. I have made my views known,” Marsch said. “You can see that the sports climate in North America has been high for national teams. I have very hopeful that this tournament can be the best reflection of our societies and that we do not have to waste time booing national hymns and getting caught in politics.”
