Japan captain Wataru Endo withdraws from World Cup with foot injury, retires from international football three days before opener
Wataru Endo, Japan’s captain, has withdrawn from the 2026 World Cup with a persistent foot injury and announced his immediate retirement from international football, just three days before the Samurai Blue face the Netherlands in Dallas.
Injury setback
Wataru Endo suffered a season-ending foot injury while playing for Liverpool against Sunderland in February 2026. He underwent surgery with the World Cup in mind and returned for a friendly against Iceland on May 31, but lasted only the first half and reported ongoing discomfort. During Japan's pre-tournament camp in Mexico, Endo was unable to complete full training sessions and could not regain fitness after the team moved to its base in Nashville.
Withdrawal and retirement
On June 11, the Japan Football Association confirmed Endo’s withdrawal from the squad. The 33-year-old midfielder made the announcement himself in a social media post, combining it with his retirement from international football.
He added that he was frustrated but took pride in the team’s progress.Since my injury, I've done everything I possibly could up to this point, so I have no regrets whatsoever.
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.
Borussia Mönchengladbach forward Shuto Machino was called up as his replacement. National team director Masakuni Yamamoto relayed Endo's message that he hoped the team would achieve the best possible result.
Leadership change
Defender Ko Itakura will wear the captain’s armband for Japan in the World Cup. Coach Hajime Moriyasu left midfielder Hidemasa Morita, who recently departed Sporting CP, out of the squad. Itakura's elevation was confirmed by Yamamoto.
Japan's World Cup schedule
Japan begin their Group F campaign against the Netherlands on June 14 in Dallas, with further matches against Tunisia and Sweden. The Samurai Blue are appearing at their eighth World Cup finals.
Endo's international legacy
Endo debuted for Japan in 2015 and retires with 73 caps and four goals. He played at both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, featuring in memorable victories over Germany and Spain in Qatar. As captain, he oversaw a transformation of the national team’s mindset, one he described as having made it natural to target winning the World Cup.
