'It's ridiculous': Jesse Marsch sounds off after Whitecaps players fall ill following trip to Mexico

On Friday, Canadian men's national team head coach Jesse Marsch sounded off on the situation surrounding illness reported by multiple members of the Vancouver Whitecaps organization following their trip to Mexico for the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup final against Cruz Azul. 

Yesterday, the Vancouver Whitecaps revealed in a statement that a significant number of players and staff had reported gastrointestinal symptoms following that trip, resulting in cancelled and modified training sessions. 

The Whitecaps lost that match 5-0 this past Sunday in a disappointing conclusion to their incredible run in the continental competition. 

Three players on Marsch's Canada team preparing for the 2025 Canadian Shield Tournament — Ali Ahmed, Jayden Nelson and Sam Adekugbe — all experienced symptoms and missed training as a result. 

This is the second consecutive year that an MLS team has reported such symptoms after a Concacaf Champions Cup final in Mexico. Last year, Columbus Crew coach Wilfried Nancy told media that nearly his entire roster and coaching staff fell ill as a result of apparent food poisoning. The Crew went on to lose the 2024 final 3-0 to Pachuca. 

"The only [fitness concern] that we had was that the three Vancouver players were poisoned," said Marsch. "They're better now, they're probably not ready for 90-minute performances. But it's, for me, appalling that this is the second year in a row that Concacaf and the powers that be have allowed an MLS team to go down to Mexico for a big final and get poisoned. It's ridiculous. Something has to be done to protect these environments."

Below is the full transcript of what the Canadian men's national team manager had to say: 

Jesse Marsch spoke this morning about his anger over the gastrointestinal illness that has swept through the Vancouver Whitecaps after their CONCACAF Champions Cup final in Mexico City on Sunday. He said 3 members of his Canadian MNT had been "poisoned". Very strong stuff. pic.twitter.com/SqeQVWl4qD

— Joe Callaghan (@JoeCallaghan84) June 6, 2025

Marsch confirmed that Ahmed, Nelson and Adekugbe should be available for Saturday's match against Ukraine, but likely for limited minutes.

Canada's match against Ukraine kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT, at BMO Field in Toronto. They also play Côte d'Ivoire on Tuesday (8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT). Both matches will be broadcast live on OneSoccer.