What Jesse Marsch said after Canada got eliminated at FIFA World Cup
Canada’s FIFA World Cup run is over, but it didn’t come without a fight.
The Canadians gave Morocco all they could handle in a 3-0 loss in their World Cup Round of 16 match. It was a lopsided score, but the game was knotted at 0-0 going into the half, and two of Morocco’s goals came in the final 15 minutes of the match.
At the end, however, it is Canada who will be headed home, while Morocco moves on to the World Cup quarter-final against either France or Paraguay.
It’s a heartbreaking result, especially after Canada outplayed the Moroccans for the majority of the first half. The match was there for the Canadians; they just couldn’t get that clutch goal when they needed it most.
Canada head coach Jesse Marsch has proven to be a fiery, passionate character throughout the tournament, and he continued that in an interview with TSN after being eliminated.
“We were the better team,” said an emotional Marsch. “In terms of the match plan, the idea of how we want to play football, the idea of a bunch of guys believing in themselves and going after it and taking a top team who hasn’t lost in I don’t even know how long, and taking them to the limit.
“We were the much better team in the first half and even the beginning of the second half. It was one play that made it 1-nil, otherwise the game was ours.”
"We were the better team."
Jesse Marsch speaks candidly about his team's game in the Round of 16. #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/6lJN5O5oel
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) July 4, 2026
It’s true that the Canadians controlled the pace of play for most of the first half, and even for large swathes of the second half as well. It was a tremendous effort from a Canadian squad that ranked 30th in the world, going up against a sixth-ranked Moroccan team.
Canada was supposed to be an easy win for Morocco, but they forced the North African nation to push it to the limit to get past them. That in itself is something to be proud of for Canada, and Marsch is loving how the men’s program is looking for the future.
“What a privilege our fans have had to root a team out like this, that goes after the game, that doesn’t play defensive, that shows that they can be better,” Marsch said. “I’d rather be us than them, as good as Morocco is, I’d rather be us.
“I’m really proud of our guys. We went after the game; they’re hurting right now, but my goodness, I couldn’t be prouder.”
"I'd rather be us than them, as good as Morocco is, I'd rather be us." 👏
Jesse Marsch with the ultimate answer following Canada's exit at the #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/yzrbM3qWgC
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) July 4, 2026
The loss ends Canada’s most successful run at the men’s World Cup, advancing to the Round of 16 for the first time ever. A lot of history was made by this Canadian squad, as they captured the nation’s first points and wins at the men’s tournament.
While it didn’t end how Canadian fans would have wanted, the entire country should be proud of how far this team came.