Canada head coach Jesse Marsh hopes to meet Italy and his former forward Wilfried Genonto at the 2026 World Cup.
Canada head coach Marsh hopes to play Italy in the 2026 World Cup group stages later this year.
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The Azzurri have yet to qualify, but if they do they will meet Canada, Switzerland and Qatar in the group stages.
Marsh hopes to meet Italy at World Cup
BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 5: Italian players play the national anthem during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match between Italy and Estonia at the Estonia Stadium in Bergamo, Italy on September 5, 2025. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)
“I have a family in Tuscany and I have a passion for football,” Marsh told Gazzetta dello Sport.
“My favorite player is Demetrio Albertini. I hope to see you again in the United States and I really hope to see Genonto, who I coached at Leeds United.”
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Genonto has played 13 games for Leeds United this season and only contributed 3 assists. He scored 1 goal in 13 games for the Italian national team.
Genonto makes his Italy debut under Mancini
epa10710974 Italy’s Wilfried Gnonto celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during the group stage match between Switzerland and Italy at the European Under-21 Championship in Cluj, Romania, on June 25, 2023. EPA-EFE/ALEX NICODIM
The 22-year-old winger made his Azzurri debut in 2022 under Roberto Mancini but has not featured for the Azzurri since September 2023.
Italy will face Northern Ireland in the World Cup play-off semi-finals on March 26. If they advance to the final, they will face the winner of Wales’ match against Bosnia and Herzegovina away from home.
In the same interview, Marsh also talked about Canadian forward David, who recently scored his second Serie A goal for Juventus.