In 15 months, the US, Canada and Mexico share the World Cup, and will first be hosted across the continent. For the time being, however, the three countries share most of the hostility, anxiety and doubt.
Since taking office two months ago, President Trump has been enacted and abolished, recreating a series of punishing tariffs in two parts of the United States. The president has also been repeatedly convened for the annexation of Canada, denounced it as the 51st province and addressed the prime minister as governor.
At the southern border, Trump has deployed around 9,000 soldiers, already bolstering nearly 17,000 Border Patrol agents.
As the country will host the largest World Cup in history next year, it is unlikely to create a level of trust and cooperation. And these tense relationships colour the lead to this week’s Conca Caffenations League Final Four, held at Sophie Stadium. Canada will meet Mexico and the US will face Panama in the semi-finals on Thursday.
The winners will meet in the final on Sunday, while the losers will play in the third place game. The US competed for the first trophy under new coach Mauricio Pockettino, winning three previous tournaments, beating Mexico in the final and winning Canada once.
However, this time, for politics, there is a national pride and trophy, similar to the trophy with Canadian manager Jesse Marsh, who was born in Wisconsin, played and coached for the US national team, calling Trump’s rhetoric “unsteady and frankly shaming.”
“Canada is a strong, independent country with deep roots in decency,” he hyped the National League match at a press conference. “It’s a place that values high ethics and respect, unlike the prejudiced, rude, and now the hatred climate that is often found in the United States.
“I have been unhappy with the treatment Canada has received as a nation and as a people.”
Politics is already spilling on hockey. After Canada defeated the United States in the final of the Four Nations Faceoff last month, Canada’s manager John Cooper said:
Marche said he hopes that if he defeats Mexico and meets the US in Sunday’s final, his team will be motivated as well.
“I know this will fuel them,” he said.
Trump has irritated Mexico in addition to repeated, repeated tariffs and border militarization by renaming the Gulf of Mexico.
“For me, it’s the Gulf of Mexico,” Mexico coach Javier Aguirre said in Spanish.
Mexican coach Javier Aguirre, right, his assistant, Rafael Marquez in August 2024.
(Marco Ugarte/AP)
Born in Mexico to parents who fled oppression in the Basque region after the Spanish Civil War, Aguirre said he had a soft heart for immigrants. .
“It’s not easy to leave your country in search of a better life,” Aguirre said. “I identify many with these people who came looking for American dreams.”
“At the end of the day, we believe we are neighbors. We need each other and coexistence is the best,” he added. “I believe that Mexicans, grandchildren, sons, great Mexican grandchildren who came here and wanted a future have served this country.”
When it comes to tariffs and cross-border drugs and human cargo trafficking, Aguirre admits that he has “the ability or authority to talk about it.” But he hopes that these issues will not affect football.
“I wouldn’t like it because we have to differentiate between sports and politics rather than mixing sights, sports and politics,” he said. “For me, this platform is not about talking about politics.”
Mars disagrees.
“Everything in the US is currently being charged very politically,” he told Canadian television. “I think most people agree. Even Americans agree and understand that Canada has been a really good friend of the United States for a long time.
“There’s mutual respect from most citizens, but I just want to see that it’s respected by the government as well.”
Even Panama, the only team of the Concacaf Final Four from outside North America, attracted the president’s rage. Last week, Trump instructed the military to create options to increase the presence of American troops in Panama with the goal of reclaiming the Panama Canal.
Panama, the country, will not be able to survive economic and military pressure if Trump follows his threat. However, the soccer team Panama was able to defeat Mexico and Canada, and thus defeat the United States.
And if that’s the case, the results resonate.
“These international tournaments in Canada mean something different now,” Marche said.
Times staff writer Eduardo Kowich contributed to the story.
I’ve read the latest football work with covin Kevin Baxter. Each weekly column will take you behind the scenes and shine a spotlight on unique stories. Listen to Baxter on this week’s episode of the “Galaxy of the Galaxy” podcast.
