Marsch expects Wales to join Canada at World Cup

Jesse Marsch managed Leeds in the Premier League between 2022 and 2023

International friendly: Wales v Canada

Venue: Swansea.com Stadium Date: Tuesday, 9 September Kick-off: 19:45 BST

Coverage: Live on iPlayer, BBC One, BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and Sounds, the BBC Sport website and app, plus live text commentary.

Canada head coach Jesse Marsch says he expects Wales to join his side at the 2026 World Cup.

Canada take on Wales in a friendly at the Swansea.com Stadium on Tuesday as they continue preparations for next year's tournament, which they are jointly hosting with the USA and Mexico.

Wales went top of their World Cup qualifying group after last Thursday's win in Kazakhstan, though they have since slipped to third thanks to victories for North Macedonia and Belgium.

But former Leeds United boss Marsch believes Canada are tackling a Wales side who they could meet again at the World Cup.

"Coming here to Wales to play against a very good team, a team I think will qualify for the World Cup, is a great opportunity for us to continue to grow and challenge ourselves to be better," he told the BBC World Service.

"We are excited. I know Craig Bellamy was a great player and is certainly a very astute and emotional coach.

"I know some of the Welsh players having coached them or coached against them. There will be no love lost but an appreciation and respect for each other as we get ready for the match."

Canada beat Romania 3-0 in a friendly in Bucharest last Friday.

That was the Canucks' first game since they were beaten on penalties by Guatemala in the Concacaf Gold Cup in June.

While they are automatically in the next World Cup as hosts, Canada qualified in 2022 to end a 36-year exile from the tournament.

American Marsch, who took charge in May 2024, says Canada must treat friendlies differently because they "don't get to experience the pressure of trying to get to the World Cup and all those meaningful matches".

"We have to put our own pressure into our environment in every chance we have to be together and make sure we that we harden ourselves to be ready for the World Cup," he added.

"We will no doubt put together the best and most difficult list of opponents in Canadian soccer history with the goal of trying to put our players in the toughest games against the best players and best teams so we are fully prepared for the World Cup."