Pepple says Marsch contacted him before the final squad was announced and explained that he had narrowly missed out. The striker was reportedly viewed as just outside the current group rather than excluded from Canada’s long-term plans.
That distinction matters. Pepple had earned his first senior call-up after a strong scoring run for Argyle, but he did not feature in the pre-tournament games against Iceland or Tunisia and has yet to win his first cap.
The disappointment is obvious, yet the bigger picture is encouraging. A player who was competing in the National League on loan at Southend United earlier in his career has since taken steps through Chesterfield and Plymouth, testing himself at progressively higher levels.
Pepple has explained that leaving Southend was difficult because it was where he had begun to play regularly. But with the World Cup approaching, he believed a tougher challenge would improve his international prospects.
That gamble appears to have worked, even if the final selection did not arrive. His call-up showed that Canada’s staff were already tracking his progress, while Marsch’s reported message underlined the importance of maintaining that momentum.
For a developing striker, international football is often built on timing, patience and consistency. Pepple now has a clear pathway: keep performing for Plymouth, sharpen his all-round game and remain ready when Canada’s next opportunity arrives.
The next Canada camp will be the key storyline. Pepple is targeting a return to the squad, a first appearance and, eventually, the first international goal that would make his near miss feel like the beginning rather than the end.