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Jesse Marsh, head coach of the Canadian men's soccer team, isn't entirely confident about next week's friendly against Venezuela in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, given rising tensions between Venezuela and the United States.
“I think we're hopeful that despite all the different political issues, the game will still go on,” Marsh said Wednesday at BMO Field in Toronto, where his team hosts Ecuador this week. “But we'll see, you know? We want to play this match. Let's hope that everything stays calm enough and everything works out.”
Venezuela has announced a “massive mobilization” of military personnel in response to what its defense minister called an “imperialist threat” to American naval power in the Caribbean. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the largest warship in the US Navy, recently sailed from Europe to the Caribbean, allegedly to step up attacks on suspected drug ships.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has accused the Americans of being more interested in overthrowing him through covert or overt military operations. US President Donald Trump said he was considering carrying out strikes inside Venezuela.
“We are sensitive to global geopolitics in the same way that people who are aware of the world are, but as far as the game is concerned, it is limited and it is our intention, and I believe the opponent's intention, that everything continues as scheduled,” Kevin Blue, general secretary and CEO of Canada Soccer, said Wednesday.
The Venezuelan football team will face Australia for the first time in Houston on Friday.
Although the match against Canada will take place in Florida, the host country is Venezuela. Canada Soccer, which will receive a fee for playing as a guest, has a “contractual right to protection” if the game doesn't take place, Blue said.
The match was always delicate. In September, Canadian ticket holders received a cancellation notice that was later described as “premature.”
At the time, Canada Soccer officials were considering moving the game to another location, including BMO Field, but that would have delayed construction of temporary stands for the men's World Cup next summer. This tournament will be held jointly by Canada, the USA and Mexico.
Trump's hard-line immigration stance has led to concerns about routine migration of World Cup fans and even the admission of players from early qualifier Iran. Iranian officials have reportedly been denied visas to attend next month's World Cup draw in Washington, DC.
Last month, Trump also threatened to cancel games in Boston, a staunchly Democratic city.
Marsh, an American living in Italy, has been a vocal critic of Trump, at least regarding his relationship with Canada. In February, Marsh advised Trump to “drop the ridiculous rhetoric about Canada being the 51st country.”st. state.”
Since then he has become more reserved in his opinions. In September, before a friendly match against Romania in Bucharest, Marsh was asked about his feelings towards Trump.
“I think I've had my time in the political sun,” he said. “And I don’t want to go back there again.”
