Canada head coach Jesse Marsch has made clear he wants nothing less than a victory against Switzerland in the sides' final FIFA World Cup 2026 Group B fixture, with a place at the top of the standings — and a home knockout tie — on the line.

Canada enter the match in Vancouver's BC Place sitting first in Group B on 4 points. Either a win or a draw would be enough to secure the group, but Marsch is refusing to let his squad settle for the safer outcome.

Marsch sets his sights on winning the group

"Staying here in Vancouver is definitely our number one goal," Marsch told reporters at a news conference on Tuesday. "When I took the job, as soon as I found out the format of the tournament, I said, okay, we have a clear objective — we want to win the group. Two years ago, everybody thought I was crazy, right? That prospect at the time wouldn't be possible, but this is where I expected us to be."

Finishing first in Group B would allow Canada to stay in Vancouver for a round of 32 knockout match on July 2, a prospect that has been central to Marsch's planning since he was appointed.

"When we drew Switzerland, we thought, okay, let's position ourselves to make sure that we are competing for our goal to stay in Vancouver in that last match," he added. "And so we're here, and we're going to be ready for it."

No conservative approach for Canada

Marsch was direct in dismissing any notion of a cautious, draw-seeking game plan. In his view, the surest way to throw away a result is to play for one.

"I feel like the worst way to get the draw is to play for a draw," he said. "You have to go into the match and play for a win, and then in the later stages you can use your substitutes and tactics to manage what you need out of the match. Manage the result — that is how I say it."

The coach confirmed Canada would begin the Switzerland fixture with an attacking mindset, with tactical adjustments reserved for later in the game if the situation demands it. "We're going to start this match going into it with the mentality and the tactics to win," Marsch said.