Clint Dempsey slams Jesse Marsch after national anthem dig: ‘Worry about your own team’

• Canada coach: Had to beg US players to sing anthem

• Marsch was assistant for USMNT from 2010-11

• Dempsey says it was an ‘honor’ to represent country

Clint Dempsey, the US men’s national team’s joint all-time leading scorer, has fired back at Jesse Marsch after the https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jun/11/jesse-masrch-canada-us-national-anthem-world-cup">Canada coach suggested that American players had to be begged to sing the Star-Spangled Banner.

Speaking to reporters this week before Canada’s World Cup opener – https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jun/12/canada-bosnia-herzegovina-world-cup-2026-group-b-match-report">a 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday in Toronto – Marsch was praising the pride of his own team when he drew a comparison with US players.

Marsch was an assistant for the USMNT from 2010 to 2011, including at the World Cup in South Africa, and became the first American to manage Canada when he was appointed two years ago.