Was he supposed to be in Georgia? Instead, Pepi lands in Eindhoven, launching rehab after what he calls a minor setback.
He was withdrawn early in PSV’s clash with Twente, and Mauricio Pochettino took his place on the USMNT roster for the upcoming window.
In Tuesday’s statement, Pepi, who featured in all five World Cup games, thanked fans for their messages.
“Thanks for the warm wishes,” he wrote on PSV’s site. “It’s just a minor setback; I’ve begun rehab and aim to return quickly to help the squad.”
PSV has not disclosed his recovery timeline, and the club’s next fixture isn’t until Oct. 9 versus Heerenveen.
Pochettino filled Pepi’s USMNT spot with St. Louis City SC forward Damion Downs.
The United States will contest four friendlies in the window, facing Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada.
November brings CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals, while PSV faces eight games across multiple tournaments before then.
Pepi’s missing status joins several high‑profile absences in the first post‑World Cup camp. For my money, his loss hurts the US attack more than any single injury.
World Cup standout Folarin Balogun and Christian Pulisic were omitted, each dealing with lingering health questions.
Pulisic netted his season opener for AC Milan over the weekend, and Balogun debuted as a substitute for AS Monaco.
Last week, Pochettino said the camp’s doors remain open for everyone.
“It’s a fresh start, a new cycle,” the USMNT boss declared. “We’re not stuck in the past or the World Cup era.” Can the team regain momentum without him?