Pro-Trump Alexi Lalas wants USMNT vs Canada final after national anthem booing

 An ardent and outspoken supporter of Donald Trump, former U.S. Men’s National Team defender Alexi Lalas has expressed his burning desire for the USMNT to take on Canada in what would be a feisty CONCACAF Nations League final, amidst the ongoing political tensions between the North American neighbors.

Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT is scheduled to take on Panama in the first semifinal on Thursday at SoFi Stadium looking to book a place in Sunday’s final against either Javier Aguirre’s Mexico or Jesse Marsch’s Canada. Should the U.S. players reach the final, they’d have a shot at winning their fourth consecutive tournament in as many attempts, having beaten Mexico twice and Canada once.

The 2025 Finals have a vastly different feeling to them, however, given the political and societal tensions between the U.S. and both Canada and Mexico. But given U.S. President Trump’s repeated claims that Canada should become the “51st state,” the ongoing trade wars, combined with increasingly regular booing from Canadians of the American National Anthem at sporting events (such as the 4 Nations Face-Off and at Toronto FC’s 2-1 loss to Chicago FC), Lalas is desperate to see these two teams battle it out at SoFi.

“I want Canada so bad. And I hope the soccer Gods smile upon us for that delicious matchup, obviously led by American Jesse Marsch. You're welcome, Canada,” he sarcastically commented on his State of the Union podcast.

“Also, the quality that we have. We've played Mexico time and time again. And I'm not saying that it wouldn't be a good game and I'm not saying it wouldn't be a good test. And I'm also not saying that I don't enjoy beating Mexico in a final.

“But where we are right now and relative to the moment that is happening both on and off the field, another opportunity to have a U.S.-Mexico matchup, what we saw with the hockey situation.

“And obviously, as you (co-host David Mosse) mentioned, with the political situation right now. Let's see if the soccer Gods do, I think it's a smile upon us, and give us that matchup going forward.”

Lalas went on to add that regardless of who the USMNT faces in the final, assuming it beats Panama, he believes either side would represent "good tests for this National Team, not elite competition, as we talked about before."

He added: “But the reality is that this is all they have right now. And again, the ability to even in a couple of games, find a way to at the end of those games, be standing on the podium and holding up a trophy with the confetti and the music.”

Whether or not booing during the anthem will be prevalent during the Nations League will be worth watching out for, as will Lalas’ response if it does. Following the recent boos at BMO Stadium ahead of Chicago’s MLS win, the FOX Sports analyst reshared a clip on X, captioned: "And then the American team kicked their a--."

If the USMNT did take on Canada, who as Lalas mentioned are currently led by American coach Marsch, it would represent an interesting situation for the former Leeds United and RB Leipzig coach following his recent criticism of Trump.

“These international tournaments for Canada mean something different now,” Marsch recently told reporters. “As an American, I'd like to address the 51st state discourse, which I find unsettling and, frankly, insulting.

“Canada is a strong, independent nation that's deep-rooted in decency, really, and it's a place that values high ethics and respect, unlike the polarized, disrespectful, and often now hate-fueled climate that's in the U.S. And, look, Canada values a lot of fairness and unity.

“It's a place that I've learned as the National Team coach, where people really believe that their differences make them stronger. And, honestly, it's one of the things that I've enjoyed the most about our team, is that they exemplify this as human beings and as a team.”