Canada’s Alistair Johnston: ‘Our country is under threat, under attack’

The style and system Jesse Marsch has moulded for the Canadian men’s national team is predicated on pressure; hemming in and harrying opponents until they are deprived of options. It is lovingly labelled the ‘maplepress,’ and it turns out its principles also apply to wedding planning.

Alistair Johnston, one of the spiritual leaders of Marsch’s rapid Canadian revolution over these past 10 months, will tie the knot this summer. When his fiancée Peyton Pesavento looked for time, she was immediately hemmed in. “I only had one date that I could give her in the next two calendar years!” the Celtic defender says with a smile.

A Sunday in early June it is then. Then, on the Monday of that week, the groom will join up with Marsch and his teammates for Gold Cup preparations.

On the field, and increasingly off it, Johnston has become a cornerstone for Celtic and Canada. The milestones have racked up: 50 international caps, 100 appearances in hoops, captaining both, longlisted for the Best Fifa Men’s XI. That’s just since November. By the time wedding day rolls around he’ll have at least one more medal, with Celtic having won the Scottish League Cup and holding a huge lead atop the Scottish Premiership, but he’s adamant it can be three after this week in Los Angeles.

The Concacaf Nations League is, at first or most blushes, not the sexiest prize. However, a quarter century has passed since the Canadian men last won a trophy. A year out from a World Cup on home soil, Marsch and Canada crave a physical symbol of how far they’ve come. The political and cultural climate adds greater weight still. Donald Trump’s threats to all three of the visiting nations here – Canada, Mexico and Panama – have served to make this football’s version of last month’s Four Nations Face-off.

Marsch, who last month lashed out at Trump for his ‘51st state’ threats, and his American counterpart Maurico Pochettino tried to sidestep the geopolitics during Tuesday afternoon’s press conferences at SoFi Stadium. Later at Canada’s team hotel, Johnston wasn’t of a mind to do the same.

We saw what the hockey team did, they came through in the biggest moment. We’re going to have our chance here to do the same Alistair Johnston

“I grew up in a family where education was put to the forefront. Football came second,” the 26-year-old told the Guardian. “[The current political climate] is at the forefront of not just my mind but also my family back home. I hear a lot about the stress and the unease it’s put on them.

“It’s been really powerful to watch and to see how united it’s made people. There’s such a level of respect we’ve had for Americans throughout history. But when you start to break that, you can see how strong the Canadians react. I think it sums up Canada: we treat everyone with respect but at the same time don’t take that respect, generosity for weakness.

“We have shown through hockey, look how unified, how fired up [we are]. I was up at the crack of dawn [in Scotland] watching those games. We’re lucky enough as a team that the [Nations League] is coming in at a pretty important time for Canada. Times are difficult. The economy is going to struggle because of a trade war. Difficult choices. Some are going to lose their jobs. People are going to look for something to clasp on to.

“We saw what the hockey team did, they came through in the biggest moment. We’re going to have our chance here to do it and build even more momentum going into the 2026 World Cup. Our country is under threat, under attack … it should add an extra couple of degrees of intensity.”

View image in fullscreen Johnston and Canada have a chance to win their first trophy in 25 years. Photograph: NurPhoto/Getty Images

Johnston rarely quiets his conscience. Last summer he hit back at a right-wing troll targeting the background of this Canada team. There’s a sliver of irony in him being refreshingly open, an engaging thinker and speaker, yet also a magnet for cliches. Student of the game. Ultimate team player. All used frequently. All fit. A snapshot: when Alphonso Davies buried a second-minute header beyond Dominik Livakovic at Qatar 2022 for Canada’s first-ever men’s World Cup goal, teammates sprinted to Davies, engulfing him. Not Johnston. He first ran to Tajon Buchanan whose perfect cross had found Davies on the button.

Earlier on Tuesday Johnston was, typically, first out at LA Coliseum as a gorgeously still Southern California morning sun kissed the bermuda grass. The training surface doubles as hallowed ground for Canada. It was in that stadium that the country won that last prize, the 2000 Gold Cup. The right-back looked around at training and saw a group ready to meet the moment.

skip past newsletter promotion Sign up to Soccer with Jonathan Wilson Free weekly newsletter Jonathan Wilson brings expert analysis on the biggest stories from European soccer Enter your email address Sign up Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy . We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion

“It’s funny because a lot of players when they win a trophy go ‘that box is checked.’ That’s almost the North American way,” says Johnston, who has won six medals since joining Celtic in 2023. “But [at Celtic] I look at James Forrest and Callum McGregor and I see how driven they are to pick up every trophy.

“We’ve thought a lot about it. Just thinking about two years ago we were in Las Vegas lining up for a Nations League Final and I’m thinking about how different a position we’re in now. We’re two years older, two more years of guys playing in big European competitions, big leagues. There’s a quieter sense of belief that yeah we’re here again but this time we’re ready. That brings almost a calming influence.”

Moments of calm have been shorter in supply during the hectic European season. Last weekend, Celtic’s loss to crosstown rival Rangers in the Old Firm Derby was a jolt in an otherwise terrific campaign, serving as a reminder of the demands on Johnston.

“That’s the pressure that you need to enjoy. That is the Celtic standard. It is taxing mentally but it means so much when you’re at a club like that,” he says. “I see what the club means to people. I understand that if I’m a fan of a club like this, what would I like to see from my players? I’m honest with my work, defensively love a tackle, love being physical. I’m a bit football mad. I love the city. [It’s] the biggest fish bowl in all of Europe. Everyone knows who you are. You don’t know if they love you or hate you but you know they know who you are. I’m not famous outside of maybe a 30-mile radius of Glasgow city centre … but what a radius.”

Johnston credits Marsch and his Celtic managers Ange Postecoglou and Brendan Rodgers for his growth and form, which has caught the eye of Premier League sides. A new contract ties him to Celtic until 2029 and he insists his family, with beloved black lab Salem, is very settled

“I’m in no rush to take a Scottish dog out of Scotland,” Johnston says. “That’d be its own challenge. I don’t take for granted what an unbelievable opportunity this club has [given me].”

Opportunity knocks first in Thursday’s semi-final against Mexico. A potential Sunday decider against the US would be a tantalizing opportunity for a Canadian riposte. That said, Johnston has got out ahead of any chatter about anthem booing. He shared the flight to LA with Celtic teammate and England-born US defender Cameron Carter-Vickers.

“At this stage, I’m more American than CCV!” Johnston grinned. “He probably doesn’t even know the anthem.”

Click here to read article