Canada's Marsch preaches positivity about goal-scoring troubles: 'They're coming'

Jesse Marsch, Canada's national men's soccer head coach speaks to the media ahead of the World Cup roster selection camp in Charlotte, N.C., on Monday, May 25, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

MONTREAL — Jesse Marsch walked into the Stade Saputo press conference room bracing for “a million questions” about Canada’s scoring troubles and even joked he would reject any with a negative slant.

A 1-1 draw with lower-ranked Ireland in the country’s final World Cup tune-up Friday — with Canada’s lone goal coming on an Irish own goal — did little to quiet concerns about an attack that has struggled to find the net consistently in recent months.

But Marsch insisted goals will come, even with the tournament kickoff less than a week away.

“I’m going to be positive, guys. I’m not here to take a bunch of negative questions,” Canada’s coach said post-match. ”We’ve got to score some goals, but we will.”

“We have firepower. I know that,” he added. “And I know the goals haven’t been coming and I’ve been saying they’re coming, and I’m gonna say it again — they’re coming."

Canada generated 20 shot attempts, but just two on target as Marsch’s men couldn’t put the finishing touches on promising buildups.

The World Cup co-hosts have scored 11 goals in their last 10 matches dating back to September, with limited production from open play.

It’s a problem Marsch knows Canada needs to solve in time for Friday’s opener against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto.

Unlocking Jonathan David and Cyle Larin would certainly help. The team’s most prolific scorers are stuck in a dry spell for Canada.

Besides a pair of penalty-kick goals against Iceland in March, David — a star forward coming off a difficult first season with Italian giants Juventus — has otherwise scored once in 10 international appearances.

Larin, meanwhile, found strong form at Southampton this season, but is goalless in 14 games for Canada. The 31-year-old from Brampton, Ont., had one solid scoring chance against Ireland, but also conceded a penalty with a reckless foul.

Marsch appears committed to pairing David and Larin up top, but has options off the bench in Tani Oluwaseyi and Promise David.

“Cyle did a lot of things right and he was in a lot of positions to score a goal, but he makes the foul for the penalty and then doesn’t quite get the goal on the day. So this is the way it’s been a little bit for Cyle,” Marsch said. “That’s why it was so great to see him doing so well at Southampton, right?

“But I also think Tani’s been really good in the last two games and we know that Promise is capable of pulling out wonders … It’s going to be my job to figure out for each match, what do we need from the start, and then how to use those weapons off the bench?"

Ready to start?

Luc de Fougerolles filled in for standout centre back Moïse Bombito in the starting 11 on Friday. Marsch liked what he saw.

“Luc with the ball was outstanding and helped set up a lot of our initial movements to get us into the attack,” Marsch said. “He was really good on what we call rest defence and defending some difficult moments, standing players up, not giving away fouls.”

Marsch has said he will be patient with Bombito and give him every chance to recover from a fractured tibia. The 26-year-old from Montreal played just 30 minutes in Monday’s friendly against Uzbekistan in Edmonton and was seen icing his leg.

The 20-year-old De Fougerolles from London, England, represents Canada through his Montreal-born father. He appears to be a solid option next to Derek Cornelius should Bombito need more time.

“I got 90 minutes for the first time in a few months (Friday). It was tough but I was definitely happy to get through it,” said De Fougerolles, who dealt with an ankle injury and a concussion this season. “I’m definitely ready.”

Breakout potential

Ismaël Koné was all over the pitch against Ireland, showing why he could be one of Canada’s breakout players at the World Cup.

The 23-year-old central midfielder tracked back to disrupt Irish counterattacks and distributed the ball effectively. He finished with a game-high 90 touches and 76 passes, along with three tackles, three shot attempts and one block.

“I got after him after Uzbekistan, because I felt like he was just floating around the pitch, way too slow and not intensive enough,” Marsch said Friday. “Today he picked it all up and put together a complete performance where against the ball he was winning duels, he’s winning head balls, he’s picking up loose balls. With the ball he’s driving, he’s finding action.

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“This is what my vision from the beginning is of Ismael, an intensive player that also has a gift of just moving around with the ball that teams can’t really match plan for, right? He’s an X-factor for us.”

Koné excelled for Canada at the 2024 Copa America, helping earn a move to French club Olympique Marseille.

A rocky 2024-25 campaign followed as Koné butted heads with manager Roberto De Zerbi, but the Montrealer bounced back this season with Italian side Sassuolo.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2026.

Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press