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International Football Canada coach Jesse Marsch at the FIFA World Cup draw. Emilee Chinn / FIFA Jesse Marsch has announced his Canada men’s national team squad that will take part in a training camp this month and play friendlies against Iceland and Tunisia in Toronto. Originally expected to be a larger-than-usual squad, Marsch has made a selection of 26, as well as two mainstays as training players — both of whom are recovering from injury. Marsch is still missing multiple injured players expected to be in his World Cup squad, including Alphonso Davies, Stephen Eustaquio and Alfie Jones. Advertisement For Canada, there will be two things to look for within the March window, the last before Marsch must name his World Cup squad by June 1. First is further solidifying tactical plans and an identity with the tournament less than three months away. Then, players currently on the fringe of the squad must impress Marsch enough in demanding training sessions and games to lock down a World Cup roster spot. There are likely only a small handful of places still unclaimed in Canada’s World Cup roster. Perhaps the most pressing question from this window will be whether Marsch saw enough to fill some of those roster holes, or whether those spots will be determined on club form through the remainder of the season. As The Athletic reported on Wednesday, Plymouth Argyle striker Aribim Pepple has been given his first call-up. Goalkeepers:  Maxime Crépeau (Orlando City), Owen Goodman (Barnsley, on loan from Crystal Palace), Dayne St. Clair (Inter Miami). Defenders: Derek Cornelius (Rangers, on loan from Olympique de Marseille), Luc de Fougerolles (FCV Dender, on loan from Fulham), Richie Laryea (Toronto FC), Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty (New York Red Bulls), Kamal Miller (Portland Timbers), Ralph Priso (Vancouver Whitecaps), Niko Sigur (Hajduk Split), Joel Waterman (Chicago Fire). Midfielders:  Ali Ahmed (Norwich City), Tajon Buchanan (Villarreal), Mathieu Choinière (Los Angeles FC), Marcelo Flores (Tigres UANL), Junior Hoilett (Swindon Town), Ismaël Koné (Sassuolo, on loan from Olympique de Marseille), Liam Millar (Hull City), Jonathan Osorio (Toronto FC), Nathan Saliba (RSC Anderlecht). Forwards:  Jonathan David (Juventus), Daniel Jebbison (Preston North End on loan from AFC Bournemouth), Cyle Larin (Southampton, on loan from RCD Mallorca), Tani Oluwaseyi (Villarreal), Aribim Pepple (Plymouth Argyle), Jacen Russell-Rowe (Toulouse). Training Players: Alistair Johnston (Celtic), Moïse Bombito (Nice) Marsch’s March roster provides some insight into how he is leaning in his final World Cup roster decisions. Advertisement Owen Goodman once again being called in after becoming a Canadian citizen in October suggests the third goalkeeper spot is his to lose. In defense, it certainly feels like Canada’s five center-backs for the World Cup are close to settled: Bombito, Cornelius, De Fougerolles, Jones and Waterman. However, as we’ve learned, injuries can occur and Marsch will need to know which center-back he can turn to on a moment’s notice. The battle between Priso and Miller in this camp for one centre-back spot, should it become available, will be one to watch. Hoilett returning to the squad after featuring only intermittently through 2025 is evidence of how much Marsch wants him involved in the World Cup. Hoilett might be 35 but his intelligence and leadership are held in high esteem by the coaching staff. When Eustaquio returns to Canada’s squad, could Hoilett take the spot of another midfielder who might have been considered a lock months earlier? Finally, forward: there’s at least one and possibly two spots up for grabs here. Theo Bair not getting a call to this camp is surprising, considering how much he has been scoring in Switzerland. But Marsch has done well to bring three forwards who have not featured much recently for Canada, if at all, into this camp: Jebbison, Russell-Rowe and Pepple. Each brings different skill sets, body types and recent runs of form. Each has the upside to change a game as a late substitute. Marsch will likely wait until May to determine which of his forwards is scoring at a consistent rate to include them as a final pick for his World Cup squad. But if either of Jebbison, Russell-Rowe or Pepple can adapt to Marsch’s intense training demands throughout the camp, that could improve their standing internally as well. As long as injuries don’t get in the way, Bombito will be a starter at the World Cup. He’s Canada’s most important player. It’s no surprise he’s attending camp as a training player. Bombito is seen as an emerging leader within the Canada team. But with Bombito not available to play as he recovers from injury, the door is open to Cornelius and De Fougerolles to start as a center-back duo. Both are rated highly by Canada’s coaching staff. Yet De Fougerolles’ upside has not gone unnoticed and his stock is rising. If he impresses enough against Iceland or Tunisia, could he claim a World Cup starting job? Advertisement It speaks to Johnston’s character and desire to lead Canada that even though he is also injured, he wanted to travel to Canada from Scotland to be part of this camp. Yet in his absence on the pitch, is it possible his right back job is up for grabs? And could Sigur do enough to usurp the veteran? It feels like a long shot, given Johnston’s experience with Canada. But like De Fougerolles, Sigur’s stock continues to rise. If nothing else, it’s a battle to watch. Finally, Eustaquio: He was held out of LAFC’s last game because of a leg injury, likely impacting his status for this camp. It’s hard to see the midfield duo of Eustaquio and Koné getting split up. But Saliba is quietly one of the most talented midfielders in Canada and deserves starts of his own. He’s hardly a like-for-like replacement for Eustaquio. A pairing of two of Canada’s most dynamic players in Saliba and Koné in the middle of the park in March sure does sound enticing, though. Pepple gets his first call for Canada’s men’s national team. That Marsch is bringing a new face into a training camp with less than three months to go before the World Cup speaks to the head coach’s insistence on form and talent winning out. Pepple is white hot right now, scoring 10 goals in his last 13 League One matches. It doesn’t matter — and shouldn’t matter — to Marsch that those goals are coming in England’s third division. Pepple’s size, strength and confidence means he deserves a look as a possible Promise David replacement for the World Cup, should David not be available. Pepple’s roots in the Canadian Premier League should also bolster the connections between Canada’s young professional league and the men’s national team. That pathway remains a work in progress, but Pepple’s inclusion in the squad continues to suggest there are quality players in Canada waiting to be unearthed. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle Joshua Kloke is a staff writer who has covered the Maple Leafs and Canadian soccer for The Athletic since 2016. Previously, he was a freelance writer for various publications, including Sports Illustrated. Follow Joshua on Twitter @joshuakloke