“Won’t Sit Back”- USMNT Legend Warns Mauricio Pochettino About Jesse Marsch’s Canada

The 2026 World Cup represents the ultimate test for the US Men’s National Team. Having earned direct qualification as a host nation, they will face formidable challenges against teams with first-hand experience in this prestigious tournament. However, the World Cup isn’t limited to international powerhouses as US icon Tony Meola believes Mauricio Pochettino and Co. will also encounter tough competition from their co-hosts, Canada, describing them as “somebody to be reckoned with.”

After John Herdman stepped down as the CanMNT manager, ending a tenure of nearly 2,090 days, the Canucks found themselves in a managerial crisis. Mauro Biello served as interim boss during the transitional period until Jesse Marsch was appointed earlier this summer ahead of the Copa America campaign. Since then, Marsch’s leadership has significantly elevated the team’s stature.

That had to make Meola at least send a warning to Poch, who hasn’t faced them so far as the USMNT boss. “I think Canada under Jesse now is a little bit further ahead in their identity of who they are than Pochettino is for obvious reasons,” began the former US goalie on the latest episode of CBS Sports Golazo’s Call it What You Want podcast.

Tony praised Jesse Marsch for leading the CanMNT to the Copa America semi-finals, despite taking charge of the team just a few weeks before the tournament began. While the pundit acknowledges that Marsch will continue his ‘great job’ of building the team, he still backs the Stars and Stripes to edge out their neighbors.

“Now it’s Pochettino’s turn to mold that into something that’s the best team in CONCACAF and eventually a team that can compete with teams around the world, and that’s the mission,” added Meola, before warning his nation about Canada’s potential plans of hurting them. “Canada is somebody to be reckoned with. There’s no doubt about it. They are no longer going to sit back and be concerned with the US.”

“I don’t think under Jesse, you’re not going to see that type of team. They’re going to come at the US every time they get a chance to play against them. But I think by the time 2026 gets here, I’m convinced that we’ll be further ahead than Canada will be,” concluded Tony Meola, backing the US to dominate against the Cannucks.

Looks like Meola is betting on Pochettino to outperform Jesse Marsch. And rightly so, given that the CanMNT manager’s success is considered the minimum benchmark for the new USA boss.

Mauricio Pochettino has a point to prove as USMNT manager when compared to Jesse Marsch’s Canada success

Canada achieved a better finish in the Copa America than the Gregg Berhalter-led USMNT, who were eliminated in the group stages. While the Canucks’ journey ended in the semi-finals against eventual champions Argentina, Jesse Marsch’s side showcased their dominance over the US during the September window, securing a 2-1 win against interim manager Mikey Varas-led American boys.

This has only heightened anticipation about how Canada will fare against Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT. The former Tottenham boss, despite not using limited preparation time as an excuse for the 2026 World Cup, now faces expectations to replicate—or even surpass—Marsch’s success. Adding to the pressure is the benchmark set by fellow US Soccer compatriot Emma Hayes, who guided the USWNT to Olympic gold in just a few months.

With high hopes surrounding Pochettino, it remains to be seen whether the USMNT can outshine Jesse Marsch’s Canada.