Endo Exits World Cup
Japan's Captain Wataru Endo Withdraws from World Cup Squad and Retires from National Team
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Japan captain Wataru Endo has withdrawn from the 2026 FIFA World Cup and retired from international football, the Japan Football Association confirmed on Thursday. Associated Press reported the announcement came from Nashville, Tennessee, just three days before Japan's opening Group F match against the Netherlands on June 14.
The 33-year-old Liverpool midfielder, who earned 73 caps over a decade with the Samurai Blue, said he has "no regret" after doing "everything I could" to recover. He added: "From here on, I'll be cheering for the Japan national team as one of the fans," Associated Press reported.
A Risky Surgery That Ultimately Failed
Endo's World Cup dream ended on February 11, 2026, when he suffered a Lisfranc ligament injury to his left foot while playing for Liverpool against Sunderland. The separation in his midfoot bones measured 4mm — a 1mm gap is already considered severe, according to Arden Kreuzer.
Rather than take six months off with traditional surgery, Endo chose an experimental artificial ligament procedure to speed up his recovery for the World Cup. He made a surprise return on May 31, playing 45 minutes in a 1-0 friendly win over Iceland in Tokyo. But he felt significant discomfort after the match, Al Jazeera reported, and was never able to train at full tournament speed in Nashville.
New Captain Named as Japan Scrambles to Rebuild
With Endo gone, Coach Hajime Moriyasu moved quickly to fill the leadership gap. Defender Ko Itakura of Ajax was named the new captain of the Samurai Blue, Associated Press confirmed. Forward Shuto Machino of Borussia Mönchengladbach was called up as the official 26th man to replace Endo in the squad.
The choice of Machino, an attacker, signals a possible tactical shift. Rather than find a direct defensive replacement for Endo, Moriyasu may be looking to outscore opponents instead of relying on Endo's style of containing them, according to Al Jazeera.
Japan's World Cup Hopes Hit by Multiple Absences
Endo's exit is not Japan's only problem. Reports also note the unavailability of winger Kaoru Mitoma and forward Takumi Minamino. Together, their absences strip the Samurai Blue of three of their most important European-based players heading into Group F, which also includes Tunisia and Sweden.
Field Level Media noted that Endo had been a key figure in Japan's best recent World Cup run — the 2022 Qatar tournament, where Japan beat Germany and Spain before falling in the Round of 16. His role as a defensive midfielder, the team's so-called "anchor," is seen as very hard to replace within Moriyasu's system.
Endo's Decade with Japan Comes to a Close
Endo made his international debut in 2015 and went on to captain Japan through some of its most successful years. He earned 73 caps and scored four goals, according to Liverpool FC. He would have appeared in his third straight World Cup — 2018, 2022, and 2026 — had he stayed healthy, Jiji Press noted.
JFA National Team Director Masakuni Yamamoto praised Endo's "unwavering commitment" to trying to return from injury, Associated Press reported. Despite the heartbreak, Endo's tone was calm and grateful. His legacy includes helping reshape Japan's midfield into a physically tough, resilient unit that punched above its weight on the world stage.
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