Canadian men's soccer coach seeking contract extension prior to start of World Cup in June

Jesse Marsch, the head up train of Canada’s men’s association football team up, wants to poke out his contract before the start of the World Cup in June.

“It’s led me to say, let’s visit what this would look like.”

Canada Soccer confirmed it is in discussions with Marsch, whose existing deal expires at the end of July.

“Both of our goals are to get something done before the World Cup,” Marsch said.

The 52-year-old cited his bond with Kevin Blue, Canada Soccer’s CEO, as one the reasons he’d like to continue in his role.

“Kevin and I have an amazing relationship,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve had a better working relationship with anybody I’ve ever worked with.

“Then I look at the overall project and mission and program, and I think that together we can have a really strong impact, in a really positive way.”

Marsch’s public desire to extend his contract comes at an interesting time.

Jesse Marsch tells all: Canada’s current state in soccer & what’s next

When the American-born coach took over Canada’s men in May 2024, they were ranked 49th in the world.

They had climbed to 31st by the end of that year. Blue broached a possible extension in February 2025, which Marsch felt was too soon.

“The wave of popular opinion of a national team coach can swing so strongly from one direction to another,” he said. “I told Kevin, let’s see how things go.”

By September 2025, he’d lifted his team to 26th, the best ranking in its history, and Marsch’s own stock continued to rise. Canada’s men currently sit 27th, their highest year-end finish.

But this summer will be a defining one. Canada will co-host the men’s World Cup with the U.S. And Mexico, and it will enter its first game in Toronto on June 12 under unprecedented weight. Failure to get out of its group, which will include Switzerland, Qatar, and the winner of a UEFA playoff, will be considered a massive disappointment.

How the FIFA World Cup draw played out for Canada

Should the worst-case scenario strike and Marsch has been renewed, Canada Soccer will look hurried, locked into a suddenly unfortunate deal.

If Canada meets or exceeds expectations — Marsch has said internally that a semifinal appearance is within reach, a seismic result — then having him under a long-term contract will seem like a coup, especially when big nations that stumble will be looking for a post-tournament saviour.

Marsch has told Blue that he’s not looking to jump. “I told him flat out, I’m more likely to retire after the World Cup than I am to go to another job,” he said.

The salary negotiations will remain delicate. When Canada Soccer first signed Marsch, Blue had to get creative to make the numbers work.

Marsch’s official title is the MLS Canada Men’s National Team Head Coach, because the owners of Canada’s three Major League Soccer teams each reportedly contribute $500,000 to his total salary, which Canada Soccer would struggle to afford on its own.

John Herdman, Marsch’s predecessor, made $700,000 per year.

The generosity of the MLS owners has been cast as philanthropy. But because so much of soccer’s business is built on transfer fees — players are bought and sold rather than traded — that money can also be considered an investment.

Ali Ahmed, a midfielder who has thrived for Canada under Marsch, was sold by the Vancouver Whitecaps to English Championship side Norwich City earlier this month for a reported €2 million, or about $3.2 million Cdn. Some part of his market value is directly attributable to Marsch and the exposure Ahmed has received with the national team.

“His performances have just continued to escalate,” Marsch said.

But it’s unclear if the owners will re-up their commitment. The Whitecaps are for sale and a new owner could decline to participate, presumably leaving Canada Soccer to make up a significant difference, even if MLSE (Toronto FC) and Joey Saputo (CF Montreal) remain on board.

So, negotiations continue, and Marsch is going about his work.

Although there isn’t an official international window in January, he has taken a team of out-of-season players to Los Angeles for a Saturday friendly against Guatemala, including promising youngsters like 17-year-old Shola Jimoh.

Marsch’s job is to help make Jimoh’s soccer dreams come true.

In return, Canada’s coach now has a wish of his own.

Senior Contributor

Chris Jones is a journalist and screenwriter who began his career covering baseball and boxing for the National Post. He later joined Esquire magazine, where he won two National Magazine Awards for his feature writing. His memoir, Legs Hearts Minds: Loss and Its Remedies, will be published by Random House in June.

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