Clint Dempsey on Jesse Marsch's anthem comments: 'I'm not going to take advice from someone who switched to the other side'

Canada head coach Jesse Marsch has gotten under the skin of former United States men's national team player Clint Dempsey after saying that he "had to beg" American players to sing the national anthem while he was an assistant coach.

As Marsch was explaining the level of patriotism within his Canada squad during a Thursday press conference, he also took a shot at the U.S. team where he served on Bob Bradley's staff from 2010-11.

"Every one of these boys is incredibly Canadian," Marsch said. "And the pride that they have in putting on the jersey, representing the country, hearing the national anthem ...

"In the U.S., sometimes we had to beg players to sing the national anthem. These guys [the Canadian players] sing the national anthem, belt it out to the top of their lungs, because they want to show the country how proud they are to be here, to be Canadians and to represent what Canada is."

During Fox's pregame before Canada's opening World Cup match Friday against Bosnia-Herzegovina, Dempsey was told of Marsch's comments by host Rob Stone and was none to pleased to hear what was said.

"He really said that?" Dempsey asked. "Man, I can't take this guy too seriously. It was an honor for me growing up and represent my country. When the national anthem happened, I wasn't someone who normally would sing. I put my hand over my heart and I'd pray to the good man upstairs. I'm someone who's bled for this country. I broke my nose playing for this country. I've come back from two heart procedures and played for this country.

"I'm not going to take advice from someone who switched to the other side and singing another country's national anthem. And as my boy [Thierry Henry] would say, stay in your own lane. It looks like he's in a dang moped, so worry about your own team."

Prior to getting into coaching, Marsch played 321 games as a player and appeared in two matches representing the U.S. Dempsey suited up 141 times internationally and was a part of three USMNT World Cup squads.

Marsch has been in charge of Canada since May 2024, becoming the first American to coach the country's men's national team. When Gregg Berhalter was fired as U.S. coach following Copa América in 2024, Marsch's name was linked with the opening after he was a candidate two years earlier before Berhalter was rehired.