FIFA World

Cup 2026

NBA great Steve Nash sends Canada soccer team a message ahead of Switzerland World Cup game

Nash delivered a message to the Canadian team ahead of Wednesday's game vs. Switzerland. Ethan Miller / Getty Images

VANCOUVER — Ahead of the biggest game in their history, Canada’s men’s soccer team received a video message from Canadian NBA great Steve Nash.

Head coach Jesse Marsch said at a press conference Tuesday that the message focused on “the combination of tension and freedom.”

“The tension is about the discipline and the focus and the concentration to stick to the plan and to know what makes us who we are and what we are,” Marsch said of the message from Nash. “And the freedom was to go out and play and believe in ourselves and to go after the game and always show confidence and self-belief.”

“I really love the message,” Marsch added.

Nash is a two-time NBA MVP, a Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer and arguably the best Canadian NBA player ever and one of the most accomplished athletes his country has ever produced. The former point guard is also a minority owner of MLS’s Vancouver Whitecaps.

The Canadian team watched the message in a recent video meeting before a training session, ahead of playing their final group-stage game against Switzerland on Wednesday in Vancouver. Marsch said star left-back Alphonso Davies will be available but will not start against Switzerland.

Canada ‘going to be us’ against toughest group-stage opponent

Marsch said he asked Nash, among other notable Canadians, to deliver the message.

“It was a very thoughtful message, and a very thoughtful video,” Marsch said. “And I think it hit the nail on the head with our team. I want them to understand exactly what their roles are and understand what the match plan is, why the match plan is important and how it will help us gain an advantage in the match.”

Marsch and Canada will look to utilize that combination of tension and freedom against Switzerland. Those feelings are borne out of the circumstances around the result: a win or a draw from Canada would be enough to see them top Group B and stay in Vancouver for their round-of-32 game, which is one of the team’s most important priorities. A loss would likely send them into second place and a date with the second-place team from Group A, likely South Korea, in the Los Angeles area.

“Staying here in Vancouver is our No. 1 goal,” Marsch said.

The possibility of Canada finishing third is remarkably slim. Canada would need to lose and either Bosnia and Herzegovina or Qatar would need to win their game and overcome Canada’s goal differential. Canada currently have a +6 goal differential, while Bosnia sits at -3 and Qatar is at -6.

Canada are coming off the biggest win in the program’s history: a thrilling 6-0 demolition of Qatar.

Despite only needing a draw while Switzerland will require a win to top Group B and stay in Vancouver, Marsch was clear: against a Swiss side that like to have possession of the ball, Canada will not be reverting from their high-tempo, aggressive style.

“We’re going to be us,” Marsch affirmed. “One of the best parts of this team is who we are is pretty well built-in. Even if, let’s say, I showed up and said, ‘OK, guys, we are going to play a different kind of match than what we normally would,’ they would all look at me like, ‘Coach, what are we doing?’ We will have subtle adjustments that we make like we always do for the match plan, for what the opponent brings, but we are going to play to who we are. We’re going to play to our strengths, and we’re going to try to impose ourselves on the opponent.”

Davies set for first World Cup minutes

To do that, Canada could have one of their best players to call on.

“I expect him to play,” Marsch said of Bayern Munich’s Davies, who has not yet played in the World Cup.

Eight players on Switzerland’s team play in the German Bundesliga. That makes Davies’ intelligence about the opponents, as well as his pace and creativity, valuable against Switzerland.

Davies last played for Canada in March 2025, having suffered a variety of injuries since.

The 25-year-old suffered a hamstring injury during the second leg of Bayern Munich’s Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain on May 6. The left-back’s timeline for recovery was expected to be 4-6 weeks. Davies has been out for nearly seven weeks since his injury.

What You Should Read Next Why Canada winning or drawing against Switzerland is so important Jesse Marsch's team are through to the knockout round but finishing first or second in Group B has significant ramifications

Davies’ availability has continued to be a topic of discussion after arriving in Canada camp on June 1. Davies has trained both with the team and on his own with Matthias Blankenburg, an independent specialist trainer, as part of an arrangement between Bayern, Davies and Canada Soccer.

Marsch said every player outside of Ismaël Koné, who suffered a broken leg against Qatar in Canada’s second group match that ended his World Cup, and Alfie Jones will be available against Switzerland.

While Jones has played just once since suffering an ankle injury in December with his English Championship side Middlesborough, Jones has since suffered a muscle injury in Canada training. The centre-back’s availability after the group stage remains in question.

Jun 23, 2026

Connections: Sports Edition

Spot the pattern. Connect the terms

Find the hidden link between sports terms