Just three days before Japan’s opening Group F match against the Netherlands at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Asian side has been rocked by two major pieces of unwelcome news: veteran captain Wataru Endo has been forced to pull out of the tournament due to a lingering foot injury, and the 33-year-old Liverpool midfielder has announced his immediate retirement from international football.
Endo, who first underwent corrective surgery on his left foot back in February, first confirmed his double announcement via a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account written in Japanese. At the time of the announcement, the Japanese national squad was continuing their pre-tournament training camp in Nashville, Tennessee, as they make final preparations for their clash with the Dutch.
In his statement, Endo emphasized that he had left no stone unturned in his efforts to recover fitness in time for the World Cup, leaving him with no regrets over his approach to rehabilitation. “Since getting injured and up till this point, I’ve done everything I could and I have no regret,” he wrote. Endo made his return to competitive action just over a month ago, coming off the bench in a pre-tournament warm-up friendly against Iceland in Tokyo on May 31, but was substituted at half time as his foot failed to cope with the physical demands of 90 minutes of play, with Japan ultimately claiming a 1-0 win in that fixture.
Looking ahead, Endo said he will shift his focus to his club career with Liverpool, and will transition from team leader to passionate supporter of his national side. “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,” he added.
Japan Football Association officials have already moved quickly to fill the gaps left by Endo’s exit. National team director Masakuni Yamamoto confirmed Thursday that Ko Itakura, the experienced Ajax defender, will take over as the new captain of the Samurai Blue for the duration of the World Cup. To round out the squad, Borussia Monchengladbach forward Shuto Machino has been called up as Endo’s replacement, completing the 26-man roster ahead of their opening fixture.