Canada's national team coach, Jesse Marsch, stated that his team's historic qualification for the semifinals of the Copa America 2024 could be a turning point for soccer in a country preparing to co-host the 2026 World Cup.

The rise of the Canadian national team to the semifinals in the continental competition, currently taking place in the United States, represents the team's best run in a major tournament outside of the Gold Cup, in which teams from the North American, Central American, and Caribbean football confederation (CONCACAF) participate. Marsch described this experience as potentially inspiring Canadian fans' love for the beautiful game in a country that is crazily passionate about hockey.

Marsch said after Canada lost 0-2 to Argentina in New Jersey in the Copa America semifinals: "We want to inspire the nation. We hope to develop the game in the country."

The American coach added, "We want people to remember this tournament as a moment in time that changed the course of this sport in Canada."

However, Marsch pointed out that there is still much work to be done to compete with the best teams in the world, including developing more Canadian talent at younger ages and encouraging current players to be leaders with louder voices both on and off the pitch.

Marsch, who took over just five weeks before the start of Copa America, revealed, "To become a real team that can stand up in the biggest moments and toughest matches, there is more work to be done in the upcoming period."

The Canadian national team coach confirmed in statements reported by the official website of ESPN: "We must find a way to develop players faster physically, mentally, and intellectually."

He continued, "When you play against Argentina and France, and you can see the speed of play and the strength with which the best players play, that is the place we need to go."

Marsch concluded his remarks by saying, "We already have players in this country. We now need to develop them in a way that enables them to understand high-level soccer."

The Canadian national team, participating in Copa America for the first time, is preparing to face their Uruguayan counterparts on Saturday night local time (early Sunday morning GMT) in the third-place playoff of Copa America 2024.