Japan captain and Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo has been ruled out of the FIFA World Cup 2026 through injury, bringing a heartbreaking end to his international career just days before the Samurai Blue begin their campaign. The 33-year-old also announced his immediate retirement from international football, closing the curtain on a decade-long journey with Japan.
Japan’s preparations for the tournament have been dealt a major blow ahead of their Group F opener against the Netherlands on June 15. In a statement shared on social media, Endo confirmed that he would no longer be part of the World Cup squad and would be stepping away from international football altogether.
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Announcing his decision, Endo wrote that he had done everything possible to recover from the injury and had no regrets about the effort he put into returning for the tournament.
“As announced, I will be stepping away from the World Cup squad. Since my injury, I’ve done everything I possibly could up to this point, so I have no regrets whatsoever. Of course, there’s frustration at not being able to participate in this World Cup, but more than that, I’m proud of how we’ve grown together since the Qatar World Cup.”
The Liverpool midfielder also paid tribute to the current generation of Japan players and expressed his belief that they could achieve something special in North America.
“The current team is truly a wonderful team. I believe they will overcome any adversity and show us sights we’ve never seen before. With this campaign, I will be retiring from the national team. So from here on, I’ll be cheering for the Japan national team as one of the fans. The moment when the Japan national team wins the World Cup will surely come someday.”
Liverpool later acknowledged Endo’s announcement, confirming that the midfielder had withdrawn from Japan’s World Cup squad because of injury.
The setback comes after months of uncertainty surrounding Endo’s fitness. The veteran midfielder had been battling a foot injury suffered while on club duty with Liverpool earlier this year and underwent surgery in an attempt to recover in time for the World Cup. Although he was included in Japan’s final 26-man squad, concerns resurfaced when he played only one half during a warm-up friendly against Iceland before experiencing further discomfort.
WHY HAS WATARU ENDO WITHDRAWN FROM THE WORLD CUP?
Endo has been struggling with a foot injury since February after sustaining the problem while playing for Liverpool.
The midfielder underwent surgery and spent several months attempting to regain full fitness before the World Cup. His inclusion in Japan’s final squad initially suggested that he had won the race against time, especially as other notable stars such as Kaoru Mitoma and Takumi Minamino were unavailable.
However, concerns emerged during Japan’s final preparations when Endo was substituted at half-time during a friendly against Iceland on May 31. While initial medical assessments remained optimistic, Japan ultimately decided not to risk their captain’s fitness heading into the tournament.
The decision was made just three days before Japan’s opening match against the Netherlands, ending Endo’s hopes of leading his country at what would likely have been his final World Cup.
WHAT DOES ENDO’S RETIREMENT MEAN FOR JAPAN?
Endo leaves the international stage as one of Japan’s most influential players of the modern era.
Since making his senior debut in 2015, he amassed 73 caps and scored four goals for the national team. Following the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he was entrusted with the captaincy and became one of the key leaders guiding Japan into a new cycle.
His retirement also means Japan have effectively bid farewell to two captains within a matter of days. Veteran defender Maya Yoshida recently received an emotional send-off after years of service, while Endo’s departure now marks the end of another important leadership chapter.
Japan have moved quickly to replace the Liverpool midfielder in their World Cup squad, calling up Borussia Monchengladbach striker Shuto Machino. While not a like-for-like replacement, Machino adds attacking depth to a squad now tasked with coping without its captain.
Attention will now turn to who inherits the armband. Ajax defender Ko Itakura is among the leading candidates, while Takefusa Kubo and Ritsu Doan have also captained the side over the past year.
Japan open their World Cup campaign against the Netherlands before facing Tunisia and Sweden in Group F, with hopes of making a deep run despite the loss of one of their most experienced leaders.
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