One of the biggest off-field stories of the 2026 World Cup has nothing to do with a match.
Former USMNT star Clint Dempsey unloaded on Canada manager Jesse Marsch after Marsch claimed that during his time with the United States setup, coaches sometimes had to “beg” players to sing the national anthem. Marsch made the comments while praising the passion and pride shown by his Canadian squad ahead of their World Cup opener.
Dempsey, speaking on Fox Sports, was clearly not impressed.
“He really said that?” Dempsey said before defending his commitment to the national team. The USMNT legend pointed out that while he wasn’t someone who always sang the anthem, he showed his pride in other ways and sacrificed everything while representing the United States. He referenced playing through injuries, breaking his nose, and returning from multiple heart procedures during his international career.
Then came the knockout punch.
“I’m not going to take advice from someone who switched to the other side,” Dempsey said, before adding, “stay in your own lane” and telling Marsch to worry about Canada instead.
The timing made the exchange even more interesting. Marsch, who was once considered a candidate for the USMNT job, now finds himself leading Canada at a World Cup hosted partly on American soil. Meanwhile, Dempsey remains one of the most respected figures in U.S. soccer history and the joint all-time leading scorer for the national team.
The debate quickly exploded across social media, with fans arguing over whether singing the anthem is a measure of patriotism. Dempsey’s point was simple: pride isn’t always shown by singing. For him, it was shown through years of sacrifice and commitment every time he wore the U.S. shirt.
As for Marsch, he may have been trying to praise Canada. Instead, he managed to wake up one of the fiercest competitors American soccer has ever produced.
And if Dempsey’s response is any indication, this rivalry isn’t cooling down anytime soon.
