Drone scandal hangs over Canadians

Men try to keep focus on getting ready for 2026

- JOE CALLAGHAN

Clear skies overhead? Apparently so.

Among many things Canada Soccer’s social video team has done consistently well with its behindthe-curtain, hype-building content ahead of games are the sweeping overhead shots of national teams limbering up in a new city. Moody music and dramatic aerial views of the arena are usually thrown in. Based on everything that has emerged from Kansas City in recent days, however, the aerial footage may have been paused. The drones have perhaps (and perhaps wisely) been left at home.

Yet, much as coach Jesse Marsch and his men would will it so, out of sight does not mean out of mind. The dronegate scandal which engulfed the women’s team at the Paris 2024 Olympics and exploded into a federation-wide mess may rumble more quietly for now, but on it rumbles.

As Marsch’s side re-emerges for the first time after its early summer Copa America heroics and begins the 2026 World Cup cycle with back-to-back friendlies against fellow co-hosts United States and Mexico, the spying culture which apparently pervaded the recent history of Canadian programs hovers somewhere above them all.

It was among the first topics thrown at captain Alphonso Davies, record scorer Cyle Larin and Marsch himself during availabilities in Kansas, where Canada faces the U.S. on Saturday. The players’ response was so similar as to hint the squad has been given a stock answer to work with.

“For me, as of now, I’m going to let the CSA do its investigation,” Davies said. “My main focus is the two games coming up.”